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THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


9 





Page 57 

“ There was none to see save one lone little sea maid, and the four faithful beasts" 






Copyright, 1912, 

By Rand McNally & Company 


ENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY 

$?r ego 

CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 


©CI.A320067 


TO MY NIECE AND NEPHEW 

3£Urotaine awfc gorjcknraxxfc &avbca&\iz 

TO WHOM THESE STORIES FIRST WERE TOLD 
THEY ARE LOVINGLY DEDICATED 



















THE CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Mermaid's Gift u 

The Ruse of the Princess - - - - - 71 

Prince Almor and the Blind Princess - - - 85 

The King’s Mistake; or the Prince Who Had No 

Fairy Godmother - -- -- - 107 

The Young Dragon - 137 

The Red Troll 147 


























































* 







































THE ILLUSTRATIONS 


“There was none to see save one lone little 
sea maid, and the four faithful beasts’’ 

“Often the Prince read to them” 

“The crown decided the King” 

“He drew his sword and advanced upon the 

serpent” 

“Instantly a little fay flew up with it” 

The Prince scales the tower - 
“The Princess obeyed and they started” 

“So they sat staring at each other” 


Frontispiece ^ 

FACING PAGE 

II K 

7 1 ^ 

85 
107 
126 !/ 
137 1 / 

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“ Often the Prince read to them * 9 


Page 21 




THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


T HE sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, 
and the blue sea was sparkling. All the little 
waves, with their white caps on, were running races, 
chasing each other far up the sandy beach. Every- 
thing seemed gay and happy but one forlorn little 
mermaid who swam up and down near the shore 
from which she never took her eyes. Beyond the 
beach was a beautiful wood through which one could 
catch glimpses of lovely gardens and fountains, 
while over the highest tree tops the towers and 
turrets of a palace appeared, the summer home of 
the King. It was this wood the mermaid was 
watching so closely. 

Presently she saw two children emerge from 
beneath the trees and come running down to the 
seashore, hand in hand. The little mermaid slipped 
into the shadow of a great rock from where she 
could see the children without being seen by them. 


ii 


12 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


Ever since she had first spied them, weeks 
before, she had come daily to watch them, longing 
to join them but afraid to venture. Now her 
wistful eyes followed them as they ran to and fro 
upon the shore. 

They were very much alike, brother and sister, 
without doubt. Both had dark hair, the girl’s blow- 
ing over her shoulders in long ringlets, the boy’s 
bobbing in short curls above his forehead. Both had 
rosy cheeks and dark eyes, the girl soft brown ones, 
the boy great solemn black ones. But the girl’s 
chin was dimpled, her mouth a rosebud, while the 
boy’s chin set square and his mouth was firm and 
masterful. 

They danced, they sang, they built castles in the 
sand and laughed when the waves washed them 
away; they ran races, always laughing, and once, 
when the girl tripped and fell, the boy turned back, 
picked her up and kissed her, then they both ran 
laughing on. 

The little mermaid watched them with hungry 
eyes. 

“Oh, why am I not as they are 1 ?” she cried, 
and the tears brimmed over and rolled down her 
cheeks. Since first she had seen these happy 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


13 


children at play, and every day after, she had 
wished to be like them. She no longer cared for 
her playmates in the sea, whose only idea of play 
was to tumble each other about. Her days were 
spent near the shore where she hid behind the great 
rocks when the children played, that she might watch 
them. 

As she now watched and wept, the clear silver 
notes of a horn sounded from beyond the wood. The 
children heard them and knew the summons was for 
them. Without a moment’s hesitation they trotted 
back, hand in hand, toward the palace. The mermaid 
gazed after them until they disappeared beneath the 
beech trees, then she came out from her hiding place 
and dried her eyes. Diving into a little cave she 
brought up a small mirror in a coral frame and a 
comb of gold and pearl. Then she sat upon the 
rocks and combed her long, yellow hair. 

What wonderful hair it was, rippling far below 
her waist in golden waves, while the fresh breeze 
blew out little strands that curled about her white 
forehead like grape tendrils. Her eyes were blue 
as the sapphire sea, and one could look almost as 
far into their crystal depths; her mouth showed little 
white teeth between two coral lips, even now 


14 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


drooping at the corners; and her skin, — have you ever 
seen a sea shell in pearly tints with a rosy glow 
underneath? Well, the mermaid’s skin was like 
that, from her fair throat to her charming waist. 
But alas, below that pretty waist were scales, golden 
green and glittering, to be sure, but ending in a 
fishy tail! And that was why the mermaid wept 
and sighed to be like the little earth children she 
watched each day. 

Presently her fair hair was combed to suit her 
and she hid her comb and glass in the cave under 
the rocks and swam slowly to her home. 

It was some weeks later, when she went as 
usual to watch the children play, that they failed to 
come. She waited for them all the day, straining her 
eyes to see beyond the trees, if they might perchance 
be in the garden. But there was no trace of them 
and the little mermaid had to swim home without 
seeing them. The next day she went again to the 
shore, and after waiting a long time she saw one 
child, alone, come from the wood. Slowly, slowly 
she walked down to the beach, and as she drew 
near the mermaid could see that the little earth- 
maiden was weeping and could hear her sobs. She 
sat down on the sands close to the rock behind 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


15 

which the mermaid hid, and cried more bitterly than 
ever. 

“Oh, my brother, my brother,” she wailed, “how 
can I play without you? I am so lonely, so 
lonely.” 

The little sea maid peeped out; oh, if she might 
comfort her! The sobs continued and the child 
said again : 

“Oh, I am so lonely! If I only had some one 
to play with me!” 

The mermaid could bear it no longer; she swam 
around the rock in front of the weeping child and, 
clasping her hands together in entreaty, cried: 

“Would I do? Oh, lovely maiden, would I do?” 

The brown-eyed maid on the shore stopped 
crying and stared at the blue-eyed maid in the 
water. 

“Where did you come from?” she said, “and 
who are you?” 

“I came from behind the rock,” answered the 
mermaid, “and my name is Marinna.” 

“Were you in bathing?” asked the other, still 
puzzled. 

“No, I live in the water. I am — ” here she 
hesitated, “I am a mermaid,” she said, brokenly. 


i6 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


“Oh, how fine!” cried the child on the shore, 
“I have always wanted to see a mermaid. Where do 
you live"?” 

The little sea maid gave a long, happy sigh; 
everything was going to be all right after all. 

“I live in my father’s palace, under the water,” 
she said, “he is the merking.” 

“Then you are a princess, too!” exclaimed the 
shore maid. “My father is the King on the land 
and I am the Princess Erda.” 

“Yes, I am a merprincess,” said Marinna, “and 
I shall be so glad if I may play with you.” 

“I shall be glad to have you,” said the Prin- 
cess Erda. “I wish my brother Terrah could have 
seen you.” The brown eyes filled again with tears 
and the little merprincess drew nearer and asked 
sympathetically: 

‘Where is your brother^” 

“They have taken him away to a great school 
for many, many hard lessons,” answered Princess 
Erda. “But he will learn them all,” she added, 
proudly, “he is so very clever, my brother Terrah. 
He will be a great king some day and he always 
says he is going to be a good one so the people will 
be happy. He is always thinking about the people.” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


17 

“That is good,” cried the merprincess, “that is 
like my father, and all the merpeople love him.” 

The Princess Erda bent forward and took a 
long look at the mermaid, then she said: 

“I like you. You look good, too. I shall say 
Marinna and you shall call me Erda, since we both 
are princesses. Now let us play.” 

So they played, the two little princesses, build- 
ing castles on the sand, hunting shells — only the 
mermaid could find the most beautiful, because they 
were under the water — and running races. That is, 
Princess Erda ran on the sand, while the mer- 
princess swam along the edge of the sea. And often 
she did not swim nearly so fast as she could, that 
her little playmate might first reach the goal. 

Finally, when she grew tired of play, Princess 
Erda sat down by the great rock and said: 

“Tell me what you do in the sea?” 

“Oh, I play and study, like you,” she answered. 

“What do you study 1 ? You have no books, 
have you?” asked Erda. 

“Books,” said Marinna, with a puzzled frown, 
“I do not know what they are. But I learn about 
the fishes, the great ones and the little ones, my 
father rules them all. It is true I do not have to 


(2) 


18 THE MERMAID’S GIFT 

study so much as my brother Maren, but he will 
be merking, some day.” 

“Have you a brother, also?” exclaimed the 
Princess Erda. “I should like to see him.” 

“He is away, now. Like your brother, he has 
to learn to be a king. He has a wonderful teacher; 
the merpeople say he has learned his wisdom from 
the Great White Whale, himself.” 

“The Great White Whale?” repeated the Prin- 
cess Erda in astonishment, “what is that?” 

“Oh, he is the wisest creature in all the seas,” 
cried the mermaid, earnestly. “He is so very, very 
old, he is blind, but he is so wondrous wise that 
when one must know a thing, and no one else can 
tell, one goes to the Great White Whale to find it 
out.” 

“Did you ever go?” asked the Princess Erda. 

“Oh, no, no!” hastily exclaimed Marinna, “I 
should be afraid, and then my father can tell me 
all I need to know.” 

“What else do you do?” then asked the earth 
princess. 

“Oh, I hunt for shells and pearls and coral — I 
will bring you some — and I sit on the rocks and 
comb my hair. I used to sing before I saw you. 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


IQ 

After that I was too unhappy, because I longed to 
know you.” She smiled admiringly at her new 
friend. 

“Do it now!” cried the Princess Erda, clapping 
her hands, “sit on the rock and comb your hair and 
sing. I should love to have you.” 

The merprincess dived for her comb and hand 
glass; then she obediently perched herself on the 
rocks and began to comb her hair and sing. And 
oh, such a sweet voice as it was that floated out 
over the sea. The song of the waves was in it; 
the cries of the sea birds echoed in its plaintive 
tones. 

The Princess Erda was enchanted. When the 
merprincess paused she begged her to sing again, 
and both children felt their hearts drawn together by 
the melody. 

Presently the mermaid stopped and said, 
laughing: 

“There, I have sung enough, and my hair has 
never had such a combing.” 

“Such lovely silken hair,” sighed Princess Erda,. 
“it deserves so wonderful a comb and glass.” 

“These!” cried Marinna, astonished, “why these 
are the least beautiful of the many I have. Would 


20 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


you — ” she hesitated, “would you have them? They 
are scarcely fine enough for you, but if you like 
them I should be so very happy if you would let 
me give them to you.” 

The little earth princess put out her hands, say- 
ing simply: 

“I thank you for them. I am happy to take 
them from you, for you are now my friend.” 

Before the other could reply, the notes of the 
silver horn sounded through the trees. Princess Erda 
cried: 

“It is for me, I must go! Be sure to come again 
to-morrow,” and off toward the palace she scampered, 
while the mermaid called after her: 

“I will. Good-by, good-by.” 

She watched her out of sight, then smiling most 
happily, swam home to tell what a friend she had 
made. 

And for many wonderful, joyous days the 
two little maids, one of the sea, one of the land, 
met on the edge of the shore. Many games they 
played, many things learned they of each other as 
they sat and talked. But by and by, the breezes 
grew chill and one day when they met, Princess Erda 
said, sadly: 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


21 


“Dear friend, we go away very soon, and 
I shall have to say good-by to you.” 

“Where do you go'?” asked the mermaid. 

“To the great city which is the capital of my 
father’s kingdom, where is our winter home.” 

“I, too, go away,” said Marinna. “Even now 
the merpeople are preparing for our long journey to 
the Southern Seas. I am glad you are going as 
well, for I thought you would be here, and perhaps 
be lonely without me.” 

“I should be, indeed, were I here. And 
although I shall have my dear brother Terrah with 
me soon, I shall miss you sadly. But we will talk 
of you. I shall tell him how you look and how we 
have played and talked together and he will love 
you as I do. Tell me where and how you go for 
the winter.” 

“My father, my brother and I, with the Court, 
go in our sea shells, drawn by dolphins, that I have 
told you of,” answered the merprincess, “the Tritons 
and other merpeople swimming about us.” 

“When shall you come back?” asked Princess 
Erda. 

“My father knows by the sun,” said the mer- 
maid. “When it has started north he sends two of 


22 THE MERMAID S GIFT 

his faithful Tritons back here. If the water is 
warm and the breeze soft, they send him word by 
the flying fish and we all come back as we went. 

“Oh, your life is so interesting,” breathed the 
Princess Erda. “We, my brother Terrah and I, shall 
not do much but study. But we shall watch for 
the spring and I hope when we come back you will 
be here, waiting for us.” 

So the little maids kissed each other and parted. 

The sun was shining, the breeze was blow- 
ing, and the blue sea was sparkling. All the little 
waves, with their white caps on, were running races, 
chasing each other far up the sandy beach. Every- 
thing seemed gay and happy, for spring had come 
again and one little mermaid was swimming up and 
down near the shore, watching eagerly the beech 
wood beyond. Presently she saw two children 
emerge from beneath the trees and come running 
down to the sea, hand in hand. 

“Marinna, Marinna,” called the girl’s clear 
voice, “have you come yet?” 

The little merprincess swam close to the rocks 
and answered, happily: 

“I am here, dearest Erda, I am just come.” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


23 

They kissed each other and both blue and brown 
eyes sparkled with joy over the meeting. 

“This is my brother Terrah,” said the earth 
princess, with pride. “He has heard all about you 
and he has thought of many new games we can play 
together.” 

The little merprincess put out her hand and 
looked rather shyly from under her long lashes at the 
newcomer. But the boy’s frank smile and pleasant 
greeting assured her she had made another friend. 

“I have brought you a ring, dear Marinna,” 
said Princess Erda. “It is a sapphire just the color 
of your eyes,” and she slipped it on the finger of 
the mermaid. 

“It is most beautiful,” cried she, “and I thank 
you greatly. I, too, have brought you something.” 
Here she unclasped from her throat a pink coral 
necklace and hung it about the Princess Erda’s neck. 

“It is coral, the color of your lips,” she said, 
smiling, as her delighted friend kissed and thanked 
her. 

And happily the three children played together. 

“Now, you must comb your hair and sing,” 
decided Erda. So the merprincess dived for her 
comb and glass and sat upon the rocks, charming 


24 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


the earth children by the wonderful melody of her 
voice until the silver horn sounded and they said 
good-by, promising to meet the next day. 

So the next day, and the next, and the next 
they met. The new games were fascinating and 
when they tired of them Prince Terrah thought of 
more. The chill days of autumn came all too soon 
for the three playmates, when they had to say 
good-by and go their separate ways. The earth 
children had their winter of study in the great city, 
the mermaid hers in Southern Seas, her merpeople 
around her. When spring brightened the world with 
her smile, the three friends met again by the rocks 
on the seashore. 

So passed the years, and each one in its flight 
seemed to strengthen the friendship which bound the 
three. Now, to be sure, they rarely ran races, and 
the games were almost forgotten. The Princess Erda 
had reached to womanhood and Prince Terrah num- 
bered three more years than she. But they sat long 
hours on the rocks, talking or singing, and often 
the prince read to them. This was always a delight 
to the merprincess for, as you can clearly see, she 
had no books, and the ways of earth people were un- 
known to her. 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


2 5 


One summer day, as the mermaid swam slowly 
back and forth, waiting for her friends, she saw 
Prince Ter rah come alone from the beech wood. 

“Where is Erda‘?” she called, as he drew near. 

“There is visiting us a great prince from the 
north,” he answered, “and Erda and I have him to 
entertain. I slipped away while they were walking 
in the garden.” 

“You and Erda have him to entertain! Why, 
how old is he?” 

“About a year older than I.” 

“Why does he not come down and sit with us 
on the rocks?” 

“I think he likes best to be alone with my 
sister,” said Prince Terrah, gravely. “I think he is 
seeking a bride.” 

“A bride!” cried the mermaid, in astonishment, 
“then why does he not find some one old enough 
for him?” 

“Erda is now eighteen,” said her brother, “and 
princesses usually marry young.” 

“Marry!” gasped Marinna. “Will she, do you 
think, marry and leave us?” and she burst into tears. 

“Dear Marinna,” said the young man, “it is not 
a thing to cry for. If they love each other, think 


26 THE MERMAID S GIFT 

how happy they will be.” Here Prince Terrah sighed. 

But Marinna refused to be comforted. She 
would not stay and talk, as the prince begged her 
to, but swam sorrowfully home. 

The next day she came again to see if her dear 
Erda was waiting for her. But no, only Prince 
Terrah sat on the rocks. 

“Come,” he said, masterfully,” come and talk to 
me. Do you not think I too miss her^ We will 
have to comfort each other.” 

So they sat and talked about the Princess Erda, 
but the mermaid’s heart was still sore for her friend 
when she said good-by and swam away. 

Then one day Erda came alone. Never had 
Marinna seen her looking more lovely. Her eyes 
sparkled, there was a soft pink in her cheeks and 
her little feet could not walk slowly but danced all 
the way down the beach to the rocks. The foolish 
little mermaid thought it was joy at seeing her again 
and smiled happily as she greeted her. 

“Oh, Erda, dear Erda,” she sighed, “I have 
so missed you. Come sit on the rocks and tell me 
the prince has gone. 

But Erda drew back, and her fair face clouded. 

“Do not say that, Marinna,” she cried, “for 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


27 


when he goes, he takes my heart with him. I have 
left him with Terrah and my father for a little 
while but I must go back before he misses me. If 
you love me, dear Marinna, you must be glad for 
me because I am so happy.” 

The poor little merprincess put her hand to her 
heart while her eyes filled with tears. But she 
answered bravely : 

“I do love you, Erda; I love you so much that 
I will rejoice in whatever makes you happy.” 

So she listened to the earth princess as she told 
of the great Prince from the North; but when pres- 
ently Erda went back to the palace, it was a very 
forlorn little mermaid who sat on the rocks with 
the briny tears dripping down into the salt sea. 

Here Prince Terrah found, but failed to comfort 
her. Yet she could not stay away from that shore 
where she had been so happy, and the following 
day found her again at the rocks, hoping the princess 
might appear. When she saw Prince Terrah com- 
ing down alone she was minded to steal away, as 
there had come a look into his eyes of late, which 
she did not care to see. But he called to her and 
she waited until he reached the rocks. His face was 
very serious as he said: 


28 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“I have grave news for you , Marinna. Our 
Erda is in deep distress.” 

“Oh, what has occurred,” cried the little mer- 
princess, “to distress my dear Erda?” 

“Only last night,” answered Prince Terrah, “the 
Prince from the North asked the King for his 
daughter’s hand. And, as he had already won her 
heart, my good father gave his consent. There was 
great merrymaking in the palace,” he continued, 
looking wistfully at the merprincess, “but I would 
rather have been here with you. Why do you try to 
avoid me of late, dear Marinna?” 

But she cried, impatiently: 

“Go on; why do you stop there? What was it 
that distressed my Erda?” 

“Early this morning there came a rider in hot 
haste, the bearer of a message to the prince from 
his lords and counselors. The great astrologer, the 
chief of all the wise men and magicians of his 
kingdom, had read a portent in the stars which the 
prince would do well to obey. He must not marry 
until he found a princess who wore in her crown a 
Spark from the North Star. Otherwise, he would 
lose his kingdom and his life. At first he refused to 
obey. Wed my sweet sister he would, caring for 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


29 


neither life nor kingdom without her. But she 
would not. His life was too precious to risk, and 
never should he lose it because of her. So there 
the matter rests, and there is only trouble and sorrow 
in the palace where last night there was joy and 
gladness.” 

When he ceased speaking the mermaid was 
silent for a long time, then she said: 

“Under the sea, Prince Terrah, many things are 
understood which the earth people know naught of. 
I am sure there will be a way out of this trouble. 
Come here to-morrow; I shall consult my wise father 
and may then have news for you.” 

She waited no longer than her last word, but 
swam rapidly away. 

The next day Prince Terrah waited on the rocks, 
but when he saw the mermaid’s grave face he knew 
she had no good news, yet. She came close to him 
and said: 

“It is more than my father can tell. To-morrow 
I go to see the teacher under whom my brother Ma- 
ren studies. He is very wise, he has learned, they 
say, of the Great White Whale, himself.” 

“How can you go alone ?” cried Prince Terrah. 
“You will be lost — ” 


30 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


The mermaid drew herself up rather haughtily: 

“I go in my shell,” she said, “attended by my 
people, mermaids, mermen, and Tritons. You for- 
get I am the daughter of the great merking who 
rules the sea.” 

“I would you were a simple earth maiden,” he 
cried, “for then — ” 

But then the merprincess interrupted him, saying: 

“I shall send you word when I return. Good- 
by,” and she was gone. 

For many days Prince Terrah came to the rocks, 
but there was no sign of Marinna. The Prince from 
the North had gone, heartbroken, back to his kingdom 
and Princess Erda sat in the garden and sighed and 
wept. For Terrah had not told her what the mer- 
princess had said, lest nothing come of it and she 
be disappointed. 

At last, as he sat on the rocks one day, looking 
out over the ocean, he saw a shining golden head 
above the waves and his heart beat fast with hope. 
As it drew nearer he perceived a little mermaid 
who, alas, was not Marinna. When she reached 
the rocks she said, timidly to the young man: 

“Is this the Prince Terrah?” 

“It is,” he responded. 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


3i 


“Then I have a message for you which our mer- 
princess Marinna has sent. Even the wise teacher 
of our merprince Maren cannot tell her what she 
wishes to know, and she has gone — ,” the little 
mermaid lowered her voice and spoke with awe, “she 
has gone to seek knowledge from the Great White 
Whale, himself. But she bade me tell you that 
since he was the wisest creature in all the seas, she 
would return with the knowledge you desired.” 

The prince felt by no means sure of this, but he 
inquired : 

“And when will that be?” 

“I do not know, oh, Prince,” the little mermaid 
replied, “only that the journey will be long. I am 
to bring you word as soon as the princess returns,” 
and she swam away. 

The days dragged by, oh, so slowly, to Prince 
Terrah. Sometimes he brought his books to the 
rocks and tried to read, but his eyes lifted them- 
selves from the printed page too often for him to 
discern what he read. For his thoughts were with 
the merprincess and he sighed for her return. His 
mind went back to the happy days of childhood 
when they played together on the sands; he could 
see her deep blue eyes sparkle with glee as they 


32 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


raced up and down, one in the sea, two on the 
shore; before his dreaming eyes shone the glitter of 
her golden hair, the soft rosy pearl of her skin, and 
her wonderful voice rang in his ears. Oh, if they 
had never grown up, or if they could but return to 
that happy childhood. Here was he, a man, some 
day to be a great king, ruler over vast dominions, 
and he loved a mermaid! No earth prince could 
ask even a merprincess to be his queen, then he was 
almost sure Marinna cared nothing for him, save as 
a friend. So Prince Terrah’s heart was very sad as 
he sat by the sea, waiting for tidings from the one 
he loved. 

Far, far away, in Eastern Seas, the blue ocean 
bore upon its waves a wondrous procession of 
voyagers. First came Tritons, blowing upon conch 
shells to clear the way for those who followed. 
After them swam mermen and mermaids, a numerous 
company, surrounding a huge sea shell, drawn by six 
swift dolphins. In the shell sat the merprincess 
Marinna, thus attended and protected by her father’s 
loyal people. Many days had they been on the way 
and they were now very near their journey’s end. 
They were passing a barren shore where a great 
point of rocks jutted into the sea. The merprincess 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


33 


lifted her eyes to the land. No dwelling place of 
men could be seen, no tree, no green shrub, no 
blade of grass, only the frowning rocks. She sighed 
and again felt fearful of what she might meet. But 
it was for her friend, her Erda, and she would push 
on until she gained the knowledge which she sought. 

An old merman swam near. She inclined her 
head to him and he spoke: 

“Oh, Princess, we are very near the end of your 
journey. The cave of the Great White Whale lies 
deep underneath that point of rocks. Will it please 
you to descend now with me 1 ?” 

The merprincess shivered slightly, but answered: 

“I am ready. Let us go at once,” and slipping 
from her shell, she dived down into the depths of 
the sea with her companion. 

It was so deep, so dark under the shadow of the 
grim rocks, that once the merprincess said to her 
attendant: 

“You are quite sure it is here, Oce 1 ?” 

“Quite, my Princess. I have been here more than 
once with the wise teacher of our Prince Maren.” 
Then he added: 

“There is nothing at all to fear, my Princess. 
Even the Great White Whale himself, owes allegiance 

(3) 


34 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


to your august father. Beside this, he is too kind 
to harm any living creature.” 

Still they floated downward, through the dusk. 
Their eyes were becoming used to the faint light, 
and the merprincess saw they were nearing the 
bottom of the sea. A huge shape showed through 
the gloom and the mermaid whispered: 

“What is it, Oce?” Her voice trembled a little. 
“Not a fish, surely.” 

“No, my Princess,” he made answer, quickly, “it 
is a great ship in which the earth people once sailed 
the seas, now sunken here, a useless hulk. But we 
have reached the cave, which you must enter alone.” 

The little mermaid paused. In front of her she 
now saw the entrance to a cave, in the very founda- 
tions of the earth. Seaweed hung so thickly over it 
she was forced to push it aside with both small 
hands ere she could enter. The first sight of the cave 
itself almost took her breath, it was so beautiful. 
The walls and roof were of white coral; the sides of 
the cave were draped with seaweed, strung with rare 
shells, while starfish and curious sea creatures found 
a footing on the rocks below. But that which lent 
most enchantment to the scene was the wonderful 
blue light which bathed everything in tints of azure. 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


35 


She looked down at her rosy little fingers, and even 
they had caught the same hue. As she paused there 
in the great cave, entranced with its beauty, a queer, 
husky whisper reached her ears: 

“What is it that disturbs my rest?” 

The merprincess started violently, but before she 
could speak, the voice sounded again : 

“Why splash about like that? What are you?” 

“I am Marinna,” faltered the startled mermaid. 

“Ah,” said the Great White Whale, “that is 
clear, at any rate. Now perhaps you will be good 
enough to go away and let me sleep.” 

Marinna looked at him indignantly. The great 
white creature lay at the other end of the cave, his 
huge bulk spread over a soft cushion of seaweed, his 
blind eyes closed. She was not afraid of him any 
more. She swam closer to him and said: 

“I am the merprincess, Marinna. I am the only 
daughter of your King, and I have come many 
leagues to profit by your great wisdom.” 

“There have been so many merkings since I have 
laid here, but whosoever reigns now, although I know 
him not, is my King. What would you, child?” 

“I desire to know,” said the merprincess, boldly, 
“how one may gain a Spark from the North Star?” 


36 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


There was a silence, then the Great White 
Whale said, sleepily: 

“What is a star 1 ? I have forgotten.” 

“Why, it is a light in the sky,” answered 
Marinna. 

“What is light?” further questioned the great 
creature. 

“Light? Oh, light is — , why it is — , why I do 
not know how to tell you,” said the little mermaid. 

“Have you eyes?” said the Great White Whale. 

“Certainly,” responded Marinna, with warmth. 

“Can you see?” 

“Why, of course I can.” 

“She has eyes,” quoth the Great White Whale, 
“and she can see, yet she cannot tell me what light 
is. This is simply ignorance.” 

The mermaid’s eyes flashed. 

“I know,” she said, “what light is, but how can 
one so ignorant tell anything to one so wise? I 
think I may as well go back to my home.” 

“You are so hasty,” sighed the whale. “If you 
can wait until I remember, I shall tell you what 
you wish to know.” 

Then a great silence fell upon the cave. The 
surge of the sea swayed the waiting mermaid gently 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


37 


to and fro; the blue light glinted through the waves 
now on this, now on that curious shell, or sea 
anemone, but by and by Marinna grew tired of 
watching them. Hours passed by and still the Great 
White Whale spoke not, and the mermaid could hear 
a purring sound as his sides heaved gently. 

“He has gone to sleep!” she thought with vexa- 
tion, but she did not quite like to rouse him. Again 
she waited, amusing herself by counting the starfish 
to keep her own eyes from closing, so drowsy did she 
become in the silence and the swaying sea. Pres- 
ently she said to herself: 

“Oh, this is quite hopeless. I shall go home,” 
but as she turned toward the exit from the cave, the 
voice spoke again, clearer and firmer than at the first: 

“I have remembered,” it said. “I have remem- 
bered those days I swam the Northern Seas; I have 
remembered what light is; I have remembered the 
stars, even the great North Star.” He paused and 
the little mermaid said, eagerly: 

“And can you tell me now, how one can get 
a Spark from the North Star?” 

“Only once in a thousand years does one fall,” 
answered the Great White Whale, “but if this be 
the time, I do not know.” 


38 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“It must be the time,” answered the merprincess, 
stoutly, “since it is so needed. Now tell me how 
one can secure it.” 

“You must go to the Edge of the Land,” said 
the whale. 

“Is it there?” queried the mermaid. 

“Then you must go to the Isle of Rocks.” 

“Is it there?” she asked again. 

“Then you must go to the Land of Ice and 
Snow.” 

The little mermaid shivered. 

“Is it there?” she asked, faintly. 

“It is there you will find it, if at all. Then 
you must wait until the Long Night comes on. If 
it be the time, I know not, but if it be, the Spark 
will fall before the morning comes again.” He was 
still. Marinna waited a long time but only the 
purring sound broke the silence. Finally she said: 

“Is there more?” No answer came. Then she said : 

“I thank you with all my heart and my father, 
the King, will give you great reward.” 

Still the silence continued, so, believing the great 
creature really sunk in slumber, she turned to leave. 
Then the husky whisper, fainter than ever, reached 
her ears: 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


39 


“If it be the time, I know not, but if it be, go. 
I wish for no reward but to be let alone, that I may 
sleep.” 

The mermaid swam slowly from the cave and 
joining the waiting Oce floated to the surface of the 
sea. Taking her place in her shell, she turned her 
face homeward. 

No one questioned her, but she felt the loving 
sympathy of her people during the long journey. 
And deeply, seriously did she think, during that 
journey. It came to her that she alone could go to 
seek for the Spark from the North Star. Only love 
would dare so much for a gift. The wise White 
Whale had meant this when he said: 

“Tou must go.” 

Yes, she must go, no other could. First, she 
must see the wise teacher of her brother, he would 
know if this were the time. Then she would go on 
to her home and persuade her father, the merking, 
to let her take the long journey. He loved her, he 
would let her do this thing she so greatly wished, 
he would arrange everything for her comfort and 
safety. So, while her face was still grave, she grew 
more settled in her mind and more sure of what she 
should do. 


40 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


She paid her visit to the teacher of her brother 
and that wise merman was able to assure her that 
this was indeed the year in which there fell a Spark 
from the North Star. Then she went on to her 
father’s sea palace, where there were great rejoicings 
over her return. 

But she found it very, very hard to persuade 
the merking to allow her to go upon the long and 
dangerous journey to the Land of Ice and Snow. 

“It is unfitting that a princess of the sea under- 
take such a task,” he said. 

“It is for a princess of the earth I undertake it, 
my father. It is a task fitted only for one of high 
position, and you have always taught us that because 
we are of royal birth, we should the more be ready 
to help others.” 

“You will suffer, my child, from the bitter cold,” 
he pleaded. 

“No, dearest father, my love will keep me warm; 
my purpose will sustain me.” 

“Could you not be happy to give it up, and 
remain here with those who love you 1 ?” he asked. 

“No, my father,” she answered firmly, but 
lovingly, “the Princess Erda loves me and she is 
very unhappy. No one can help her but me, and 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


4i 


I so love her that unless she is happy, I am not.” 

So finally, the King gave his consent and 
preparations were begun for the long journey of the 
merprincess. The little messenger was dispatched to 
Prince Terrah, whom she found waiting on the sands. 

“You bring me word of your merprincess 1 ?” he 
cried, on seeing her. 

“I do,” answered the mermaid. “She has returned 
and bids me say she will meet the Princess Erda 
and Prince Terrah here by the rocks, to-morrow.” 

So the morrow found the brother and sister 
pacing up and down the sands, eagerly watching 
for the appearance of a familiar golden head upon 
the waves. At last she came, their friend Marinna, 
beautiful and gentle as of old, her happiness at 
seeing them beaming in her eyes. 

The two maids embraced each other warmly, and 
a little hand was held out to Prince Terrah, who 
could not forbear kissing it. 

“Ah, dear Erda,” cried the mermaid, “you are 
too thin and pale. I like it not.” 

“You are rosy and lovely enough for two, 
Marinna,” said the earth princess. “My thoughts 
have been too sad, of late, to beautify any one.” 

“I have come to change all that, Erda,” said 


42 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


her friend, earnestly. “You must begin to think 
only good thoughts now, thoughts of hope, for,” 
here she turned to Prince Terrah, “I have gained the 
knowledge I went to seek.” 

“What is that?” inquired the Princess Erda, for 
her brother had never told her why the mermaid 
went away. 

“I have been,” said Marinna then, “to seek the 
Great White Whale, himself, to ask him how one 
could gain a Spark from the North Star.” 

The Princess Erda drew nearer to her and her 
pale face flushed. 

“Oh, Marinna,” she gasped, “can it be done? 
Could he tell you?” 

“He could and did tell me,” answered the mer- 
maid. “You will yet be happy, my sweet Erda, you 
and your prince.” 

The tears streamed down the face of the earth 
princess. She caught her friend in her arms, sobbing: 

“You went for me, dear Marinna, you braved that 
great creature for me! How can I ever thank you?” 

The sea maid smiled. 

“Had I known before I went what a mild 
creature was the Great White Whale, I should never 
have feared as I did.” 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


43 


“Now,” cried Princess Erda, “you will arrange, 
Terrah, to have some one sent, at once, for the 
Spark from the North Star. Where is he to go, 
Markina?” 

“Wait, Erda,” said the mermaid, gravely, “wait 
until you have heard all that the Great White 
Whale said to me.” And when she had finished the 
story of her adventure, prince and princess looked 
as grave as she. 

“It is a journey none of our people could take,” 
said Prince Terrah. “I will go, myself.” 

“No, no, my brother,” cried Erda, flinging her 
arms about him, “you could not live; you shall not 
be sacrificed for my happiness.” 

“No,” said the merprincess, “Prince Terrah could 
not go, because no ship could reach the Land of 
Ice and Snow. But you are not to give up hope, 
my Erda; I go myself.” 

“You!” cried the brother and sister in one 
breath, “you, Marinna?” 

“Yes, I alone can, and I have come to tell you 
that I start to-morrow.” 

But then they both began to protest and to 
plead. Terrah stormed and said: 

“You shall not go, Marinna. You will die of 


44 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


the cold, you who go every winter to the Southern 
Seas;” and Erda pleaded: 

“Do not go, dearest Marinna, I cannot lose you. 
I should never be happy again if you took this 
terrible journey for me.” 

But the little merprincess shook her head. 

“I cannot be moved,” she said, “I am determined 
to go. All my plans are laid and my father has 
sent swift messengers to all the creatures in the 
Northern Seas to further my journey. I shall be 
protected, and I know I shall return to you with 
that which you most desire.” 

And, although they argued and entreated, she 
was firm in her purpose, saying finally: 

“Come, do not make me unhappy by more 
pleading. I mean to go, and the time draws near 
to say good-by.” 

So they ceased and sat talking of the journey, 
Erda holding tightly to her friend’s little hand. 

The parting was sorrowful, but bravely borne. 

“You will go away to the great city, my friends, 
and the merpeople will go to the Southern Seas, so 
none will be here to miss me from this shore,” said 
Marinna, looking around at the familiar scene, so 
loved. 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


45 

“I will wait here, lest you should return,” said 
Terrah. 

“No,” answered the mermaid, “it is only during 
the Long Night the star will shine, so I cannot 
return before spring. You must go with Erda to help 
her bear the weary waiting and suspense.” 

“And who will help you bear that which you 
have to meet, Marinna?” cried the young man. 

“Love,” answered she. “Good-by, good-by,” and 
without further farewell, she sprang from the rock 
and swam hurriedly away. 

The merpeople were all getting ready for their 
journey south. At first the King had declared he 
would not go so much farther away from his daugh- 
ter, but she answered him: 

“Dearest father, even were you here, we would 
be widely separated, and both you and our people 
would suffer from the cold. No, please me by going 
to the Southern Seas, as you always do. Are not 
all the fish in the ocean under your rule, and will 
not each be glad to serve you? I shall send many 
of them to you with messages as I journey north.” 

So, sighing, the King had yielded to Marinna’s 
plea and given orders for their usual Autumn 
departure. 


46 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


They were all assembled now to see their 
merprincess go, for she was first to take her leave. 
The great sea shell awaited her, drawn by six 

swift dolphins, while a guard of as many Tritons 

surrounded it. The farewells had been said and 

Marinna took her place in her shell and gave the 
signal to start. As the dolphins moved off, obe- 

dient to her command, she turned and waved her hand 
to her people, for speak she could not. Then she set 
her face toward the north and looked back no more. 

Day after day the dolphins swam, bearing the 
merprincess farther and farther from her home. 
Strange fish and other sea creatures greeted her from 
time to time, and some were sent with messages to 
her good father on his way to the Southern Seas. 

When they had journeyed many leagues, one of 
the Tritons attending, said to her: 

“My Princess, we approach your first stopping 
place. See you the land far to the crimson west?” 

“I see that which looks like a cloud lying on 
the water’s edge,” she made response. 

“Its northern point is a rocky cape, beyond 
which is only the wide sea.” 

“Then is it the Edge of the Land?” cried the 
merprincess. 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


47 


“It is the Edge of the Land, oh Princess.” 

Eagerly she watched as they drew nearer. 
Beyond a broad, pebbly beach rose rocks upon which 
were moving creatures. Presently she saw the shore 
also was lined with them. Turning to one of the 
Tritons she asked: 

“What are they? I have never seen their like 
before.” 

“They are seals, my Princess. They do not 
come farther south, but they are ruled by our 
King and will gladly serve you. 

And so it proved, for before they had reached 
the shore, an old seal met them in the shallow 
water, saying: 

“Welcome, oh great Princess, welcome to the 
Edge of the Land. We wait to serve you.” 

The merprincess thanked him and asked: 

“Have you received a message from the King?” 

“We have, oh Princess, and all things are in 
readiness. Here your Tritons and your dolphins, as 
well, must await your return, since they can go no 
farther for the cold. Two swift seals will draw your 
car and two others shall guard you to the Isle of 
Rocks. Rest now for we have prepared food for 
you and also have a gift we hope may please you.” 


48 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


The merprincess sat upon the rocks and ate the 
delicious sea food the seals had brought her. Then, 
after she had rested and asked many questions about 
her farther journey, she prepared to take her place 
in her shell. 

Two young seals came forward, bearing between 
them something which they laid before the mer- 
princess. 

“What is it?” she asked with interest. 

“This, oh Princess,” answered the chief seal 
who had first spoken to her, “is the gift we have 
made for you. We beg you will accept it, for 
indeed you will greatly need it in those colder 
waters beyond the Edge of the Land.” 

The merprincess took it up and lo, it was a 
soft, warm robe of sealskin. With an exclamation of 
delight she slipped it on and found it fitted her 
perfectly. There was even a hood which she drew 
over her golden head, while the seals looked on, 
approvingly. 

“Oh, kind friends,” she cried, “how well you 
have arranged for my comfort. I shall thank you 
every day as I go, clad so warmly, on my journey.” 

“There is a larger robe, also,” said the chief 
seal, and he directed the Triton to spread it over 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


49 


the sea shell in which the merprincess rode. Then, 
when she was seated, it was folded all about her. 

Thus protected, her rosy face smiling in her hood 
of fur, she called back thanks and good-bys as her 
seals bore her swiftly away. 

Then came more days of travel for the little 
mermaid. It grew colder and the days were now 
very short, for the Long Night was drawing on. But 
the North Star shone brightly overhead. How often 
did she gaze up at it in the night time. Sometimes 
with a sad heart, thinking: 

“It is so far above our little earth; even though 
this be the time, how can a spark reach me from 
that bright world on high?” 

Again, hope flamed anew and she felt sure she 
could not fail in her quest. She even made a little 
song which she used to croon softly in the long, 
lonely nights when she could not sleep. 

“Star of the North, gem of the sky, 

Remote and lustrous, pure and cold, 

Holding the prize for which I sigh 

Beyond earth’s treasured stores of gold; 

“A wanderer I, from distant shore, 

A lonely watcher through the night 

(4) 


50 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


Who begs, from out thy bounteous store, 

A tiny fragment of thy light 

“To bless a loved one far away, 

For whom I brave the cold and dark. 

For her I sing; for her I pray, 

Star of the North, a single Spark.” 

It was a simple little song, but when the 
mermaid sang it to a plaintive melody she had woven 
about the words, and her sweet voice blended with 
the murmur of the waves, the seals thought it the 
most beautiful song in the world. To be sure, they 
had never heard any other, but had any one else 
listened to that sweet, minor melody, he would 
almost have agreed with them. 

One day as they journeyed, one of the seals who 
guarded her said to Marinna: 

“Oh Princess, see you that island far ahead?” 

“I see only a black dot upon the waves,” 
answered the merprincess, shading her eyes. 

“It is the Isle of Rocks, oh Princess, your second 
stopping place. We reach it to-morrow.” 

And the little mermaid was rejoiced that so 
much of her journey was accomplished. 

The next day they reached the Isle of Rocks, 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


5 1 


one lonely little bit of land washed on every side 
by the surging waves of the salt sea. It was strewn 
with rocks, great and small, and from among them 
huge, awkward-looking creatures watched their 
coming. 

“Oh, what are these?” whispered the mermaid 
to the seals. “I have never seen their like before. 
Is it safe to approach them?” 

“They are walrus, my Princess, and although 
they look wild and strange to you, yet they are 
ruled by our King and will gladly serve you.” 

Here one of the huge creatures swam near her 
and said: 

“Welcome, great Princess, to the Isle of Rocks. 
We who own the merking’s rule, wait to obey your 
command.” 

Then the merprincess felt no more fear, but 
thanking him for his welcome asked the walrus: 

“Have you received a message from my father, 
the King?” 

“We have, oh, Princess, and all things are in 
readiness. Here your seals must await your return, 
since they can go no farther north. My brother will 
draw your shell and I myself will guard you to the 
Land of Ice and Snow. Rest now and partake of 


52 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


the food which we have prepared for you and 
to-morrow we will start.” 

And the weary little mermaid was most glad to 
leave her shell and rest before starting on the last 
stage of her journey. Yet she was ready and eager 
to go on in the morning, after bidding good-by to 
the faithful seals. 

The days were very short now. It seemed to 
Marinna the sun only peeped out for a few short 
hours, then retired to slumber all the long, long 
night. Then, too, the cold grew more intense. 
Sometimes when the chill wind blew, she shivered 
even beneath her robes of sealskin. Often she saw 
cakes of ice floating, larger and larger as she drew 
farther north. Yet other leagues stretched beyond 
and the sun appeared now for only a few moments 
each day. At length the walrus who guarded her 
said : 

“See you anything upon the waters, oh, 
Princess'?” 

“I see,” she answered, straining her eyes, for the 
daylight was almost gone, “a line of white far 
ahead.” 

“It is the Land of Ice and Snow, and here your 
journey ends.” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


53 


“ And my watching begins,” sighed the merprin- 
cess, “for here I must wait until I gain what I 
seek.” 

And when finally they reached that still, white 
shore, she knew the sun would shine no more for 
her, and that the Long Night had begun. 

Two shaggy forms stood side by side upon the 
glittering ice. 

“What are they?” said the mermaid. “Surely 
these are not creatures of the sea.” 

“No,” answered the walrus, “they are Polar 
bears, yet you need not fear them, for they are here 
to serve and protect you.” 

Then the larger of the two white bears spoke: 

“Welcome, oh, Princess of the Sea. We have 
received a message from the great merking, your 
father, and although we belong to the earth, we 
gladly serve him and you because you come a guest 
to our land.” 

The merprincess thanked them and said: 

“My vigil may be long, since this is the begin- 
ning of the Long Night, but I will trust to your 
kindness and wait patiently.” 

Then the bears led her to a little cave of snow, 


saying: 


54 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“This is the best dwelling place we can offer, 
but one of us will always be here to guard you, 
and we have prepared for you a gift.” 

The mermaid looked around the little cave and 
saw, spread on a couch of snow, unmelting in that 
bitter cold, skins of white bear, soft and warm. 

“Oh, how good you are!” she cried as she 

nestled into their shaggy depths. “Now I am warm 
once more.” 

The walrus stationed themselves at the entrance 
of the cave, saying: 

“One of us will always be near to serve you 

while the other seeks food for all,” and the little 
merprincess, guarded well, slept the sleep of the 

weary. 

No one who has not learned to wait, when there 
is nothing else to be done, in patience and obedience, 
can know how hard it is. Yet we all must learn 
this lesson as the mermaid learned it now. At first, 
she was almost afraid to sleep, lest the Spark fall 
and she lose it. But the great white Polar bears, 
and the walrus also, said to her: 

“Sleep when you like, merprincess. Two of us 
will always be on watch so if the Spark should fall, 
it cannot be lost.” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


55 


So the mermaid slept, and always her good 
friends guarded her slumbers. Yet long hours she 
lay on the icy shore, wrapped in her shaggy white 
robes, gazing up at the sky where shone, midst 
millions upon millions of others, the great North 
Star. She looked at it so steadily that when she 
closed her eyes, she still seemed to see its radiance. 
Sometimes she sang the little song she had made. 
Then the bears and walrus would beg her to sing 
again, and glad to please these faithful watchers, 

she would sing the songs which took her back in 

memory to those happy days when she sat on the 
rocks with her beloved Erda, and sang to her. Many 
a time, as she lay and watched the sky, the Northern 
Lights streamed up, lighting the snowy waste, but 
no other light was seen. Often she had dropped 

asleep as she lay watching the stars, and once, in 
the midst of her slumber, she heard the gruff tones 
of the Polar bear: 

“Awaken quickly, merprincess; behold the sky!” 

Almost before her eyes were open, she cried: 

“Is the Spark falling?’ for her thoughts were 
always upon her quest. 

“No,” cried the great beast, “look up!” 

But she was already looking up, awed and 


56 THE MERMAID’S GIFT 

trembling at the wonderful sight which met her eyes. 

Across the heavens, from side to side, a great 
arch, a glorious rainbow was sprung, all its seven 
lovely colors glowing like jeweled bars. From the 
arch shot forth rays of gorgeous color, quivering and 
waving back and forth. Columns of light wheeled 
across the sky and while the awestruck maiden gazed, 
a flash of crimson lit up the whole scene, dyeing the 
snow and ice the deepest rose. 

“Is the world on fire*?” whispered Marinna. 

“No,” answered her watcher, “it is the Aurora, 
the Northern Light, but surely the most beautiful 
ever seen.” 

The rose tint faded, then came a flash of orange 
and the world of ice and snow glowed purest golden 
in its ray. Again, a yellow flash, like sunlight; then 
a green, and the huge icebergs off the shore were 
emeralds. The blues followed, then the violet, while 
the mermaid gazed upon the weird but gorgeous 
tints, fascinated by their splendor. In the sky the 
columns rolled, the streamers of crimson and gold 
and green waved and fluttered. Suddenly, the whole 
arch shivered and broke and the sky was filled with 
glittering fragments, like a shower of jewels. The 
light dimmed slowly, the colors faded, died, and 


THE MERMAID S GIFT 


57 


then the quiet stars shone again in the darkened sky. 

No word was spoken for a long time, then the 
little maid murmured : 

“To have seen this, alone was worth all my 
journey.” 

So the Long Night wore on. 

But, by and by, there came a time, as the mer- 
maid gazed at the North Star, she noted a change in 
its brilliance. It no longer glowed with a steady 
light, but trembled and shivered as any star seems 
to do when one looks at it through tears. The 
merprincess brushed her hand across her eyes, but 
they were dry. Then she felt the time had come 
for which she waited and she watched more eagerly 
than before. Calm and serene the stars moved across 
the vast blue space, all but this one which still 
trembled as if shaken by some giant hand. And 
then, while the mermaid almost forgot to breathe; 
while her wide eyes were fixed upon its light, a tiny 
Spark dropped from the great North Star and fell 
slowly, slowly through the blue and cloudless sky. 

And in all that world of ice and snow, there 
was none to see save one lone little sea maid, and 
the four faithful beasts, her servants. 

Like a tiny star itself, the Spark floated softly 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


58 

down, nearer, nearer earth, until at last it dropped 
gently into the mermaid’s outstretched hands. There 
it rested while tears of joy ran down the pale 
cheeks of the patient watcher. 

Presently she called to the bears and walrus, for 
all were there: 

“Come, oh, faithful ones, and see this wondrous 
thing!” and they crowded round to see what she held. 

It lay in her hand, a gem like a diamond with 
a bluish tint, while from it flowed the clear, brilliant 
starlight, throwing a radiance upon all the scene. 
Suddenly the merprincess caught it to her breast with 
a little sob, and cried: 

“Now we will go home, home, with my precious 
treasure!” and you may be sure no time was lost 
in getting ready. 

The shell was spread with the shaggy bearskins 
and the merprincess, in her robes of seal fur, was 
almost buried in them. But first she had said 
good-by to the faithful Polar bears, with her arms 
about their necks. 

“Dear friends,” she said, “without your goodness 
and your protection I should not have found my 
star. I shall never forget you. Oh, what reward 
is great enough to give you?” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


59 


And the huge beasts answered: 

“Only love us and think of us, Princess, we ask 
nothing more. It has made us happy to serve you.” 

So she went away with her walrus, calling back 
good-bys. 

And it did not seem nearly so far to the Isle 
of Rocks as they went back, for the clear, soft light 
which came from the Spark of the North Star 
glowed all about them, lighting up the waves as 
though the moon shone on them. The little 
mermaid’s heart was so light she sang her happiest 
songs, and the walrus swam really quite fast for 
such clumsy creatures. And by and by the Isle of 
Rocks loomed in sight, and the sun was shining 
upon it. The Long Night was over! To be sure it 
was only a peep of sunshine, but they knew it 
would grow more and more each day, as they went 
farther south and Spring drew on. The seals were 
waiting and gladly did they welcome their Princess. 
Then came the good-bys to the walrus, and as Ma- 
rinna patted their huge sides, she said: 

“Dear friends, without your kindness and aid I 
should not have gained my star. I shall always 
remember what you have done for me, and my 
father will reward you.” 


6o 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


But the walrus said : 

“Only love us and think of us, Princess, we ask no 
other reward. It has made us happy to serve you.” 

So she rode away with her seals, calling back 
good-bys. 

The days grew longer, the nights shorter, and 
their darkness was lightened by the soft, silver glow 
which came from the Spark of the North Star. The 
merprincess sang her sweetest songs and the pleased 
seals drew her shell swiftly through the water until, 
by and by, they arrived at the Edge of the Land 
where all the seals waited to welcome them. 
Marinna showed them her treasure and the kind- 
hearted creatures rejoiced with her. Her Tritons and 
dolphins waited to take her on to her home, but 
with her little white hands stroking the seals’ fur, 
she said to them: 

“Oh, you who have taken me so far and 
brought me safely back, how can I thank you 
enough? What can I do to show that I am truly 
grateful?” 

And the seals who had gone with her to the Isle 
of Rocks, answered: 

“Only love us and think of us, dear Princess. 
Nothing could make us more happy than that.” 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


61 


So she bade them good-by and rode southward 
with her dolphins and Tritons as the Spring came 
on. 

The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing 
and the blue sea was sparkling. All the little waves, 
with their white caps on, were running races, chasing- 
each other far up the sandy beach. Everything 
seemed gay and happy as a little mermaid swam 
toward the great rocks by the shore, watching the 
wood beyond. Presently she saw two people emerge 
from beneath the trees and walk down to the sea 
hand in hand. And she knew them to be Princess 
Erda and Prince Terrah. It was he who first caught 
sight of her. Hastening his steps, he called: 

“Marinna, Marinna, is it you*?” 

The little mermaid answered: 

“No, Prince, but I bring you a message from 
her. Our Princess is on her way home, having 
reached the Edge of the Land, and started southward. 
The swiftest fish in all the sea has brought this 
word. She begs that Princess Erda, Prince Terrah, 
and the great Prince from the North will meet her 
here three days hence. She asks also that his Majesty 
the King be present with his Court, since she brings 
with her that which deserves a royal reception.” 


62 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“Oh, Terrah!” cried Princess Erda, “she brings 
that for which she went, my dear Marinna.” 

“It must be so,” he answered her. Then to the 
mermaid : 

“Everything shall be done as your Princess 
wishes, and we shall await her coming with impa- 
tience.” 

Then Princess Erda drew from her finger a ring 
set with sparkling diamonds and said to the little 
mermaid : 

“I thank you, oh, bearer of good tidings, and 
beg you will take from me this ring, in token of 
my gratitude.” 

The little sea maid was quite overwhelmed, but 
Princess Erda slipped the ring upon her finger and 
she, thanking her sweetly, swam happily away. 

Great preparations were made for the coming of 
the merprincess for all felt it would be an event 
of deep importance. A swift messenger was sent to 
the Prince from the North, and two days later he 
arrived, eager to see the Princess Erda and most 
curious as to why he had been summoned. An 
immense pavilion was erected on the seashore and 
under it was set a throne for the King. Everything 
was in readiness for the merprincess when the third 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 63 

morning dawned. And such a goodly company as 
streamed out of the beech wood down onto the sands, 
had rarely been seen anywhere. Knights and gen- 
tlemen of the Court in bright-hued satins and 
velvets, lovely ladies in rustling silks and creamy 
laces. Such a show of flashing jewels, such a picture 
of charming forms and faces as filled the great tent, 
it was good to see. When they were gathered there 
was a sound of silver trumpets, and from under 
the spreading boughs of the ancient beeches came 
royalty, itself, the King, the Princess Erda, Prince 
Terrah, and the Prince from the North. With their 
attendant lords and ladies they moved slowly to 
the pavilion where the King took his place upon the 
throne, the others standing near. Then all eyes 
were turned to the sea. 

Afar off upon the water could be seen approach- 
ing a more wondrous company, to these earth people, 
than that gathered under the tent. For no one of 
them, save the prince and princess, had ever seen 
any of the sea folk. Yet here, gliding over the blue 
water, came the merking and his people. Ahead 
were the Tritons, blowing on their conch shells, the 
advance guard of the Court. A mammoth sea shell, 
drawn by twelve dolphins, held the merking. His 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


64 

face was grave but kindly and he bore himself with 
dignity, as became the ruler of the sea. Down over 
his breast streamed a snowy beard, and his white 
hair glistened beneath a golden crown. 

Following came his daughter in her shell drawn 
by those six dolphins which had taken her to the 
Edge of the Land, and brought her home in triumph. 
And all about them swam the mermaids and mermen 
of the sea king’s Court. 

It was truly a marvelous sight and many 
exclamations of wonder arose among the earth people 
as the strange folk of the sea drew near. 

The King arose from his throne and bowed 
deeply as the merking reached the shore, the ruler of 
the sea returning the courtesy. But Prince Terrah and 
Princess Erda had no eyes for aught save their 
beloved Marinna. As her sea shell touched the sandy 
beach, she stepped lightly out and came toward them. 

A robe of delicate ribbons of seaweed, woven 
together, fell from her throat and swept the ground. 
Its tints were caught from the ever-changing waves; 
there were gleams of sapphire blue, its folds were 
clear, pale green and its shadows the silver gray of 
the sunless sea. A broad band of delicate shells, in 
rainbow hues, bordered the robe; it was girdled by 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 65 

a rope of pearls, while strand after strand of these 
lustrous globes of splendor encircled the white neck 
of the merprincess and fell to her waist. Her golden 
hair was braided with strings of pearls and piled 
upon her little head in a crown a queen might envy. 
But oh, the love light in her sapphire eyes, the flush 
of rose upon her cheek, ’twas worth a king’s ransom 
to see. 

And in her two little white hands she bore a 
light, clear and bright beyond the morning sunshine, 
which bathed her in its radiance. All eyes were 
upon her as she advanced slowly toward the King. 
When she reached the foot of the throne she paused 
and bowing low, said: 

“Most potent monarch of the earth, the daughter 
of the merking brings greeting from the ruler of 
the sea.” 

“Fair Princess,” quoth the King, “we thank our 
brother sovereign and return most cordial greetings 
to him and to thee.” 

The merprincess continued: 

“I have come, oh, King, from a far journey to 
the Land of Ice and Snow, and I have brought with 
me a priceless treasure which I crave your permission 
to bestow upon that one for whom I sought it.” 

(5) 


66 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“Whatsoever you will, oh, Princess, that do,” 
answered the King. 

Now while all the people of the Court were 
watching the lovely sea maid and listening to the 
sweet clear tones of her voice, Princess Erda and the great 
Prince from the North had eyes only for what she held. 
Surely, surely that wonderful light could come only 
from a star, from that star which would give them the 
happiness for which they longed. Princess Erda grew 
pale with excitement and trembled so the Prince took 
her cold little hand and held it tightly in his own, 
whispering words of hope into her ear. 

As the King ceased speaking, Marinna turned to 
the friend she so loved and said: 

“Princess Erda, that which your heart desires, 
I have to give; a Spark from the North Star.” 

The Princess Erda stepped forward and bent her 
head before Marinna who laid upon her dark hair 
a slender circlet of gold which held the light of that 
wondrous star. It shone tenderly upon those two 
fair maids as the brown eyes gazed into the blue 
ones, then, forgetting King and Court, their arms 
entwined, their lips met and heart beat against heart. 

Then the King spoke, and his voice was husky, 
his eyes wet: 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


67 

“Oh, gracious Princess of the sea, such grateful 
hearts, and full are ours, we have no words to thank 
thee. For such a gift there can be no reward, yet 
the half of my kingdom is thine, if thou wilt.” 

Marinna smiled shyly up at the grateful King. 

“The happiness of the Princess Erda is the 
greatest reward I could ask,” she said. “I wish 
nothing more.” 

And then Prince Terrah could keep silent no 
longer. When the merprincess first stepped from her 
shell he had given a great start, then stood 
trembling in his overwhelming surprise. He had 
watched her every motion and now he stepped to 
her side and taking her hand, addressed the King: 

“Oh, gracious sovereign and kind father, upon 
me let a reward be bestowed, since the Princess 
Marinna does not desire one.” 

“What is it, my son?” questioned the surprised 
King. 

“I ask your permission, Sire, to wed the lovely 
princess who stands before you.” 

But Marinna drew back. 

“No, no,” she cried, “you cannot wed me! I 
am a — ,” then she stopped suddenly, her face grew 
very pale and her blue eyes widened. 


68 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


“You are a woman, an earth princess, like my 
sister Erda,” said the prince, firmly. “When you 
first stepped from your shell and walked up the 
beach, I knew this.” 

The princess looked down, and beneath the 
shell border of her robe peeped two little white 
feet! She began to tremble and covered her face 
with her hands. 

Turning to the King, Prince Terrah spoke again: 

“Because of her love and sacrifice for another, 
her forgetfulness of self, this lovely sea princess has 
received the desire of her heart, to be like that one 
for whom she has dared so much.” 

Then the King showed how truly great he was. 
He stepped down from his throne, his royal robes 
trailing after him, his glittering crown upon his 
head, and taking the hand of the Princess Marinna, 
said: 

“Do not weep, most noble and beautiful maiden. 
I gladly grant the request of my son and shall be 
proud to receive you as my daughter.” 

Then he himself led her to the water’s edge, 
where the merking sat in his shell. 

“Monarch of the Sea and brother King,” he 
said, “I have the honor to ask the hand of your 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 69 

most fair and generous daughter, to whom we owe 
so much, for my son, the Prince Terrah.” 

The merking answered: 

“I thank you, oh great King, for the honor you 
do me and mine. When my daughter stepped from 
her shell I perceived she had become like the earth 
people, and I give her hand in marriage to your 
son, Prince Terrah.” 

But here Marinna cried: 

“No, no, my father, I cannot leave you!” 

“You need not be altogether separated from me, 
nor from your old friends, my beloved child, for 
you will retain the power to live in the water as 
of yore, and you can come to us when you will.” 

Then the Princess Marinna laid her little hand 
in that of Prince Terrah, who was close beside her. 
And while the two kings were exchanging compli- 
ments, he whispered : 

“Marinna, Marinna, can you really love me?” 
and she answered: 

“Oh, foolish Terrah, I have loved you ever 
since I first saw you upon this very shore.” 

The legends of that country tell that never was 
so beautiful and good and gracious a queen on any 
throne as Queen Marinna, which she became in 


70 


THE MERMAID’S GIFT 


time. And on that very throne now sits her great, 
great, great, — I do not know how many times great- 
grandchild. But so many years have gone by since 
then, that the merpeople must all be gone from those 
shores. At least, no one sees them now, and never 
before nor since was there a mermaid who became 
an earth maiden, save the lovely and loving 
merprincess, Marinna. 

































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— — — 




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aSEECJCS^S 


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“ The crown decided the King ” 


Page 76 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


O NCE upon a time there lived in Roseland, a 
very clever little Princess; so clever, indeed, 
that those who knew her often said: 

“If you will always do as the Princess Romaine 
says, you will always do right.” 

And, in time, many people came to her for 
advice. But none of them knew that before the 
Princess answered their questions, she called upon 
her fairy godmother to help her. This powerful fairy 
never appeared to any one else, but whenever she 
was really needed, the Princess summoned her to her 
aid. First, she dismissed her maidens, then went 
alone to a little room, high, high up in the tower 
of the palace, called the turret room. She carefully 
locked the door behind her, and stuffed her handker- 
chief into the keyhole, which showed what a wise 
little Princess she was. Several times her curious 
maids had followed her on tiptoe, and tried to spy 
7i 


72 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


upon her, but the door was too thick for them to 
hear the sweet, low voice of their mistress, and the 

keyhole was stopped up. So they supposed that the 

Princess only wished to be quiet and to think upon 
the advice she was to give. 

The turret room was a pleasant place in which 
to sit and think, even if that had been all the 

Princess did there. It had four large windows 
opening to the north, the east, the south, and the 
west. In the morning, the sun came in through the 
latticed east window, and the soft breeze swayed 
the morning-glory bells growing in the boxes outside. 
For where the Princess was, there must be the 

flowers she so loved. All over the city where she 
lived this love was known, so whenever any one of 
her father’s subjects had a particularly beautiful 
flower in his garden, it was sent as a gift of love 
to the Princess Romaine. 

In the turret room the south wind blew over a box 
of mignonette; the western window blazed with scarlet 
poppies, redder than the sunset clouds; and in the 
north window nodded great velvet pansies, the 
favorite flower of the Princess. They looked so 
bright and knowing, and she liked to wreath them 
in her hair, which was long and silky and shone 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


73 


like spun gold. Her eyes were purple as the pansies, 
dark and deep; her cheeks blushed pink as the 
morning-glories ; and her little rosebud mouth was 
a lovelier red than any poppy dared be. 

But the Princess did not often go to the turret 
room for thought alone. After she had shut the door 
and closed up the keyhole, she picked a great purple 
pansy, whispered to it and tossed it into the air. 

The pansy did not fall to the ground, but spread- 
ing its petals, like the wings of a butterfly, sailed 
swiftly away and was soon out of sight. 

In a few moments, there floated in at the win- 
dow a tiny creature of wonderful beauty. Her eyes 
were as dark, and her hair as golden as the Princess’s 
own, and she wore delicate robes of gossamer, violet 
and gold, and fairly glittered with dewdrop dia- 
monds. One of these was set in the end of her 

wand, where it shone like a star. 

“And what is it to-day, Romaine*?” she would 
ask, in the sweetest of tones that tinkled like little 
silver bells. Then Princess Romaine would tell her 
all, and listen carefully to the advice of her 

godmother. 

When the Princess was about seventeen, and the 
pride of all, there came one day to the Court a 


74 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


handsome and gentle youth, riding a splendid white 
horse and carrying a silver mandolin. He begged 
for leave to sing and play before the King, and was 
allowed to do so. His voice proved so beautiful, 
and his face was so fine and noble, that the Princess 
asked her father if he would not appoint him Court 
Minstrel. But the King had eaten truffles for dinner 
that night (he would do it, although they never 
agreed with him), and did not feel pleasant, so he 
said he did not think he would. He was pretty 
clever himself, the King, clever enough to know that 
whatever the Princess Romaine suggested, was 
usually the best thing to do. So he never answered 
“no” outright, for fear he might have to take it 
back. 

But the Princess, disappointed at his answer, 
hastened to the turret room and, sending for her 
fairy godmother, asked if her request might not be 
granted later. 

“Yes, my child,” answered the fairy, “it will 
be. I am watching over the youth, and I intend 
that he shall remain here.” 

So the heart of the Princess grew light again, 
and when she next saw the King (after he had 
taken a brisk walk and felt better) he said to her: 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


75 

“I have been thinking about that young singer 
called Stephanotis, and I have decided to appoint 
him Court Minstrel.” 

The Princess smiled gently, but all she said, 
was: 

“It is very kind of you, my father.” 

So it was settled, and the great white horse, 
Calla, had a place in the royal stables and a gallop 
every morning with his master, Stephanotis, the 
Court Minstrel. 

About this time the King began to receive many 
proposals for the hand of his daughter. Dukes, 
Counts, and Princes came, but the Princess said to 
each: 

“I thank you, but I do not wish to marry now. 
I will wait a year or two.” 

Finally, however, ambassadors came from Prince 
Stramonium, who ruled over Thorndom, a great 
country to the north of Roseland. And the ambassa- 
dors were more magnificently dressed than any of 
the suitors had been, and they brought most gorgeous 
presents to the King and Princess Romaine. There 
were golden vases set with gems; crystal lamps with 
perfumed oil; cloth of gold embroidered in many- 
colored silks; diamonds you could not look at. 


76 THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 

without winking; and a crown so brilliant with 
flashing jewels, that every one was obliged to put 
on smoked glasses to see it with any comfort. 

But although they presented the other gifts 
outright, the crown, they said, they could not leave 
unless the King accepted Prince Stramonium’s offer 
of marriage. 

Well, the crown decided the King. He sent the 
ambassadors home with handsome gifts, and a royal 
message to their Prince that he would be proud to 
have him for a son-in-law, while the Princess, whom 
he had not consulted at all, spent the day in tears. 

Then heralds were sent out to cry the news 
through the town, that the great Prince Stramonium 
of Thorndom was soon to wed the Princess 
Romaine. Upon hearing this, Stephanotis, the young 
Court Minstrel, turned very pale and hurrying to 
the palace, asked to see the King alone. But that 
great person was too busy with arrangements for the 
wedding, which was to take place in three days, to 
see him until late in the evening. When he came 
at last into the presence of the King, the young 
man told him that he, Stephanotis, was the rightful 
Prince of Thorndom, driven from his father’s throne 
by the wicked Stramonium. 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


77 


At this the King, who had eaten an unusual 
quantity of truffles for dinner, flew into a terrible 
fit of anger and told Stephanotis he did not believe 
one word he said. Then he ordered him to leave 
the kingdom at once, on pain of death, and raged 
until he happened to think of the crown. There- 
upon, putting on his smoked glasses, he went to 
have a look at it, to cool himself down. 

The next morning, early, Stephanotis went to 
the Princess with his story, and being such a clever 
little Princess, she knew at once it was true. Then 
Stephanotis, encouraged by her kindness, told her 
how he loved her and said that, if he had his 
kingdom back, he would ask her to marry him. 
Now, of course, he could not, seeing he was only a 
poor minstrel. Then the Princess said, very sweetly, 
that she would rather marry him, poor as he was, 
than Prince Stramonium with all his wealth, in- 
cluding the crown, and that she would call on her 
fairy godmother for help. So Stephanotis left her 
and she flew to the turret room. 

After the fairy had been summoned and heard 
all the story, she said: 

“You did well, Romaine, to believe in 
Stephanotis, for he is indeed the rightful Prince, 


78 THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 

and you must both now do exactly as I tell you. 
It is but two days until your wedding, so to-morrow 
you must make, here in the turret room, a waxen 
image of yourself. I will give you the skill. You 
then must dress it in your bridal robes, and on the 
stroke of midnight, touch its lips, eyes, hands, and 
feet with the ointment in this little golden box. 
Then go out softly, leaving the door ajar. 
Stephanotis must be waiting at the outer gate with 
Calla; all the warders will be asleep and you can 
easily unlock the doors. Then you will ride with 
Stephanotis to his kingdom, Thorndom, where are to 
be found loyal hearts and willing hands to set you 
both upon the throne. Do exactly as I command and 
be afraid of nothing.” 

So saying, the fairy disappeared, and the 
Princess went to send her message to Stephanotis. 

The next morning she began to mold the waxen 
figure, and as it grew under her fingers, guided by a 
magic skill, and came to look more and more like 
her, she seemed to see her own image as in a 
mirror. When at last it was finished, all the 
Princess had to do was to try on her wedding 
clothes, which a hundred dressmakers and milliners 
were working upon, day and night, and to wait 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


79 


for the hour in which she was to take her flight. 

The fairy had delayed Prince Stramonium by all 
sorts of accidents until it was impossible for him 
to arrive before the day set for the wedding. So 
the King was bustling all over the palace, hurrying 
and worrying the army of carpenters, upholsterers, 
and decorators working there, what time he was not 
looking at the crown and chuckling to think how 
easily he had got rid of Stephanotis. 

The Princess dismissed her maidens in the 
evening, bidding them go to rest, as they must be 
up early on the wedding morning. Then she went 
to say good-night to the King, kissing him very 
tenderly. But the King was feasting his eyes 
(guarded, of course, by his smoked glasses) on the 
crown, so returned her caress in an absent-minded 
way, his kiss falling on the end of her nose and 
his ears closed to the little sob which escaped her. 
Then she went to the turret room, locked the door, 
closed up the keyhole, dressed the waxen figure in 
her own bridal robes, took the little golden box of 
magic ointment out of her pocket, and waited for 
midnight. 

As the great clock in the steeple above her 
boomed out the hour, the Princess shivered slightly, 


8o 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


then she anointed the eyes, mouth, hands, and feet 
of the image. At first nothing happened; then the 
eyes opened, the pretty mouth smiled at her, the 
waxen Princess stretched out her hands and took a 
step toward Romaine. Startled, the real Princess ran 
out of the room, not forgetting, however, to leave 
the door ajar, through which she thought she heard 
the tinkling laugh of the fairy. 

Then she sped down long halls where the lights 
burned dimly; through vast rooms of state, where 
her little feet sank softly into the thick velvet of 
the carpets; now across patches of moonlight; now 
in shadow; until she reached the palace door, where 
two sentries slept as they stood. Noiselessly she 
turned the key, slipped the bolts, and was out in 
the clear summer night. 

Gate after gate she passed, all the warders 
asleep, while the dogs only licked the little hands 
they loved and, whining, begged to follow her. As 
she passed through the outermost portal, Stephanotis 
caught her in his arms, lifted her on Calla, sprang 
up in front, and they were off like the wind. 

A few hours later, before the faintest flush in 
the east showed that morning was near, there was 
waking and stirring in the palace, for it was the 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 81 

Princess’s wedding day. Fifty cooks were busy 
making ready for the feast, and when morning really 
dawned, the whole place was humming like a hive 
of bees. Hurrying to the Princess’s rooms, her 
maidens were startled not to find her there. They 
stood gazing at each other in wonder until one 
suggested : 

“Perhaps she is in the turret room,” and up they 
climbed into that high, high tower, to look for their 
dear mistress. 

“See,” they whispered, “the door is ajar. Dare 
we disturb her 1 ?” 

They waited and waited until the hour grew 
late, then one pushed the door wide open, and they 
saw the Princess standing by the window. 

“It is late, your Royal Highness,” said the 
maid, timidly, and the Princess turned stiffly, and 
went silently down the stairs, followed by her won- 
dering maidens. 

It was about this time that the King, attended 
by his knights and guard of honor, was riding out 
of the city gate to meet Prince Stramonium. From 
afar they saw a cloud of dust, and out of the heart 
of it presently appeared a company of horsemen in 

scarlet and gold. Following these came a band in 

(6) 


82 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 


blue and silver; next, camels laden with gifts for 
the Princess; then a host of warriors in armor which 
shone like burnished gold. Above all, floated the 
azure silken banners of Thorndom, and, in the 
midst of the company, four enormous black slaves 
bore a gorgeous litter of ebony and crimson cloth, 
from which, as they reached the King, stepped Prince 
Stramonium. 

It had been arranged that at first sight of the 
bridegroom a shout of welcome should be given by 
the knights of Roseland; but no one had breath 
enough for this, after the surprise of seeing the 
Prince. He was a little yellow, wrinkled old man, 
with a long gray beard, and his face was evil to look 
upon. In a harsh, cracked voice he saluted the 
King, and, although that monarch tried to respond 
politely, he was quite dazed and spoke but seldom 
as they rode to the palace. 

The streets were gay with banners and strewn 
with flowers, but the people who crowded them were 
strangely silent until the King and Prince had 
passed. Then the women burst into tears, exclaim- 
ing: 

“Do we give our Princess to that ugly little 
monster'?” while the men went about frowning and 


THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 83 

grumbling. When they reached the palace, the King 
had to spend a whole hour with the crown before 
he could compose himself for the wedding. 

Well, the marriage took place in the great 
cathedral, and was followed by the ringing of bells 
and the booming of cannon, but every one remarked 
how pale and still the Princess was, and many shed 
tears as the bridal party returned to the palace. 
Even at the wedding feast, the bridegroom only was 
gay, and many faces were frowning and sad. The 
Princess ate nothing, and the King refused truffles! 

Prince Stramonium, you may be sure, had felt 
the dislike he saw in every face, and was bursting 
with rage which he found hard to contain. The 
silence of courtiers, the frigid politeness of the 
King, and above all, the cold looks of the Princess, 
angered him almost beyond control. At this point, 
a note was handed the King, which ran: 

“My Dear and Royal Father: 

When this letter reaches you, I shall be 
far away in my new home, Thorndom, the 
wife of its rightful Prince, Stephanotis, — ” 

Stramonium, who had been impolitely reading 
over the King’s shoulder, here gave a loud cry, and 
the clock struck twelve! Turning to what they had 


84 THE RUSE OF THE PRINCESS 

supposed to be the Princess Romaine, they saw only 
a waxen image, for the magic ointment had lost its 
power and the poor figure, too near the fire, was 
beginning to melt. Large drops were rolling down 
its face and in a short time, it had become a shape- 
less mass of wax under the astonished eyes of the 
Court. 

Too angry to speak, the false Prince Stramonium 
swelled with rage at the trick played upon him by 
the clever little Princess. More and more furious 
he grew, more and more fiery glowed his eyeballs 
when, suddenly, a loud report was heard, a burst of 
flame enveloped him, and the frightened King and 
Court tumbled over one another trying to get to the 
door. 

When they dared come back, after a long time, 
all that was left of Prince Stramonium was a little 
heap of ashes. 

“Remove this vile usurper,” commanded the 
King, sternly, “while my ambassadors prepare to 
carry my royal blessing to my son-in-law, the great 
Prince Stephanotis of Thorndom, and also to my 
daughter, the Princess Romaine.” 

Then he turned to the royal butler with a 
smile, and said: “Bring on the truffles!” 

















* 





































































































































































































































‘ *He drew his sword and advanced upon the serpent ” 


Page 102 



PRINCE ALMOR AND THE BLIND 
PRINCESS 


N O one could understand how it came to pass. 

The King was a remarkably handsome man, 
tall and straight and magnificent, especially in his 
robes of state; the Queen was gentle and beautiful; 
and the six Princesses were so wondrously lovely 
that they had long ago been married to the most 
powerful Kings and Princes. But the Prince, their 
young brother, the only son, was hopelessly, hide- 
ously ugly. From the crown of his head to the soles 
of his feet he was utterly repulsive to look upon. 
His hands and feet were huge and misshapen, his 
scant hair was a lifeless drab color, his poor little 
weak eyes were crossed, his skin was sallow, his nose 
awry, his mouth was a thin, straight slit, and his 
ears started out from his head as though trying to 
fly from such a frightful countenance. No wonder 
the people shuddered when they saw him, and 
groaned to think that he must one day reign over 
them. 


85 


86 


PRINCE ALMOR 


There was nothing beautiful about him — wait, 
there was one thing, his voice. It was soft and 
clear as a silver bell, with such tenderness in it, 
that if you closed your eyes and listened to it for 
a few moments, you found yourself loving the Prince 
for it, and forgetting all about his looks. And 
when he sang, as he sometimes did, the nightingales 
were silent for very shame, the winds were still, and 
those who heard him held their breath to listen as 
the exquisite, tenderly sad melody filled the air. 

For Prince Almor was always sad. He had a 
brave and gentle heart which yearned for love, yet 
he knew too well, that none who saw could love 
him and his life was very lonely. The sight of him 
only angered the King, so he kept away from him 
all he could. After night had fallen, he sometimes 
went to his mother’s door, and she, moved by his 
beautiful voice, spoke kindly and lovingly to him. 
But of that real, true love for which he longed, he 
had none. 

The palace of the King stood close by the sea, 
on a tongue of land which jutted far out into the 
water so you could look east, south, and west to 
where the distant sky bent down to kiss the waves. 
To the north were the gardens, but the Prince’s 


RINCE ALMOR 


87 

rooms looked out over the sea and from his babyhood 
he had loved old Ocean. The murmur of its waves 
had lulled the lonely child to sleep, its smiling 
waters greeted him when he awakened, and his 
favorite haunt was down on the rocks where the 

breakers curled almost at his feet. Long ere he had 
grown to manhood, he had found there a compan- 
ionship and comfort naught else could give him. 

For it was there he first knew and loved the 

moon-fairies, those delicate sprites who dance over 
the waters in the moonbeams. As he sat on the 
sands, a desolate, lonely little child, forgotten by 
careless nurses, they came to comfort him. They 
brought him bright dreams, they taught him rare 

melodies, and — they loved him. For fairies are not 
like mortals, they do not look only at the outside, 
and they knew how beautiful was the heart of this 
ugly, neglected child. So they loved him and taught 
him and helped him to grow in beauty of life, until 
a strong, brave manhood filled the homely body of 
the Prince. 

It is true they came not so often to the man 
as to the child, but fairies rarely come at all to 
grown people. Mostly, because they do not believe 
in them. But the Prince did, and loved them, and 


88 


PRINCE ALMOR 


when he needed help, they were always ready to 
give it, all he asked and more. So things went 
until Prince Almor was twenty-one. Then the 
Queen said, hesitatingly, to her husband: 

“My dear — , you know — , I think — , would it 
not be best for our son to marry? 

King Loro was silent a moment, gnawing his 
beard in wrath, then he broke out with: 

“To whom dare I propose for him?” Who would 
look at such a figure as his in the light of a suitor?” 

And the Queen sighed and answered: 

“You are right, my dear. I suppose it is out 
of the question.” 

Still it remained in the King’s mind and he 
pondered it deeply. 

Now, as it happened, there was in an adjoining 
kingdom a most beautiful Princess, who, alas, was 
blind. Her father and mother were dead and she 
should have been queen, but her uncle, crafty and 
cunning, sat upon the throne and pretended to rule 
for her. The people loved their young Princess and 
had she only not been blind, would have made her 
queen. As it was, they grumbled a good deal over 
the state of things but did nothing. The uncle of 
the Princess Vea was kind to her, because he dared 


PRINCE ALMOR 


89 

not be otherwise, but in his heart he was always 
wishing he might get rid of her. So when he heard 
that King Loro desired a wife for his ugly son, his 
evil heart leaped for joy at the plan which came 
into his mind. 

First of all he invited the Prince, most cordially, 
to make him a visit and, though Almor dreaded to go 
among strangers, it was so urged upon him that he 
could not refuse. He set forth with sorrow, knowing 
the mortification he would have to endure. But be- 
fore he arrived, the uncle of the Princess Vea had 
forbidden every one, on pain of death, to speak to 
her of the Prince’s looks. 

Well, although he did not deserve it, everything 
went to suit the wicked uncle. Prince Almor loved 
the beautiful Vea from the moment he saw her, and 
she, poor Princess who could not see, heard the 
exquisite voice of the Prince and loved him. As 
soon as the visit was over and the Prince again at 
home, the crafty uncle of the Princess asked her 
kindly if she would be willing to marry Almor. 
The Prince, he told her, desired this, but he, her 
loving uncle, thought only of her happiness. And 
the Princess, who had been grieving out her heart 
over the Prince’s departure, believed him and thanked 


go 


PRINCE ALMOR 


him for his kindness, saying very prettily that she 
would gladly consent to be the bride of this charm- 
ing Prince. 

Then the uncle sent a private letter, by a swift 
messenger, to King Loro, offering the hand of his 
niece in marriage to Prince Almor. The King could 
scarcely believe his eyes. He hastened to the Queen 
with the letter. When she had read it, she said: 

“But, my dear, the Princess Vea is blind !’ 5 

“So much the better , 55 almost shouted the King. 
“Why, can’t you see that is the only kind of 
woman he could win. She is both very beautiful 
and very rich, and she actually wants to marry him.” 

“I hope, my dear, they will be happy,” sighed 
the Queen. 

But the Prince, himself, was the greatest draw- 
back to the plan of the King’s. He declared he 
would not marry the Princess, although he loved her 
so dearly. It was a bitter shame, he said, to so de- 
ceive her because she was blind. If she could see, 
he knew she would loathe him. At this, the King 
grew very angry. 

“It’s precisely because she cannot see, that she 
is the very wife for you,” he blurted out, “and 
marry her you shall!” 


PRINCE ALMOR 


9i 

Still the Prince would not consent until he had 
seen the Princess Vea again and explained to her 
how homely he was. There was nothing to be done 
but to let him go, although both kings were afraid 
of the result. 

“Princess,” said the poor lover, when he was 
alone with her, “Princess, they are deceiving you. 
You do not know, but I am hopelessly, hideously 
ugly.” The Princess Vea laughed. 

“I do not believe that,” she said. 

“But indeed I am, dear Princess, and while I 
love you with all my heart, I cannot let you think 
me other than I am.” 

“And I love you with all my heart,” said the 
Princess, quite pale with emotion, “and I shall die 
if you leave me. I do not believe you are anything 
but beautiful, but I do not care, I love you.” 

Then the Prince yielded and they were married. 

And they were happy. Songs and soft laughter 
filled that part of the palace which had been given 
to the Prince and Princess. Their attendants went 
about with smiles upon their faces and happy 
thoughts within their hearts, and even the gruff 
King softened under the influence of his beautiful, 


PRINCE ALMOR 


92 

new daughter. And, by and by, the people began 
to say: 

“Is not our Prince less homely, now that he is 
so happily married 1 ?” 

And often the answer was: 

“Yes, indeed. I begin to see quite a change 
in him,” although really, the only change was that 
now he looked happy, whereas he had before looked 
sad. 

So things continued for a whole, glad year. 
But, by and by, it seemed to the Prince that the 
Princess laughed less and was often very quiet for 
a long time. When he asked, gently: 

“Of what are you thinking, dearest?” the 
Princess would start guiltily and be gayer than ever. 

But there came a time when she could no 
longer conceal the fact that she was most unhappy. 
The Prince often saw traces of tears upon her face 
and sometimes found her weeping bitterly. To none 
of his questions would she give answer, and the poor 
distracted Prince could think of but one reason for 
her sorrow. She had ceased to love him. Yes, he 
was quite sure it was that. And how deeply did he 
reproach himself that he had taken advantage of this 
gentle, blind Princess who, he felt, would never have 


PRINCE ALMOR 


93 


married him, had she been able to see. Some one 
must have told her how hideous he really was, and 
all he could do now was to go away and leave her 
in peace. So he went back to the rooms overhang- 
ing the sea, in which he had lived as a child, and 
the Princess sat alone and wept. 

Around her moved gently her pitying maids, 
while sighs and tears took the place of laughter and 
song in all the palace. The King was furious with 
this state of things, but when the Queen said: 

“I was afraid, my dear, it would not be a happy 
match,” he could think of no suitable reply, so flung 
himself out of the room, choking with anger. 

As the Prince sat despairingly by his window, 
or at night paced the sands of the seashore, thoughts 
of his old friends the moon-fairies came to him now 
and then. But they at first were so vague, that he 
put them aside as childish dreams. They grew on 
him, however, so that, by and by, he began to lift his 
hopeless eyes from the sands and look out over the 
vast, shimmering surface of the sea. And there lay 
the silvery path of moonbeams, reaching from his 
feet out and up to the moon itself, floating through 
the blue sky. And stronger grew his memories of 
the help and comfort which used to come to him, a 


94 


PRINCE ALMOR 


lonely child, down that shining way. Through his 
tears then the Prince saw, afar off and dimly, forms 
of light floating down the path and, stretching out 
his arms to them, he cried: 

“Oh, dear moon-fairies, if you be true and not 
only dreams; if you did come to me, when a little 
child, and comfort me, oh, come now, when I need 
you as never before.” 

There was a fluttering of silver wings, a rustling 
of white garments, and the good fairies came down 
the path of moonbeams and stood before the Prince. 

“We have come in answer to thy call, Prince 
Almor. What is thy need?” 

Then the Prince told them all ; how happy he 
and the Princess had been until this strange sorrow 
took possession of her. 

“Now she will not tell me what is the cause 
of her tears,” he said. “But,” he added, “only I 
am to blame. Had she not been blind, she would 
never have married me, and it is not her fault that 
she has ceased to love me.” He was silent and a 
moon-fairy answered: 

“Although sorrow has come, no wrong has been 
done, and the Princess still loves thee. Go to her 
now and she will answer thy questions.” 


PRINCE ALMOR 


95 

The Prince, greatly comforted, thanked the 
fairies and hastened to seek the Princess. 

He found her in the garden, her head bowed in 
her hands, the crystal tears dropping between her 
fingers. He sat down beside her, drawing her to 
him, and said: 

“Dearest heart, why do you weep?” 

Because you have forsaken me and no longer 
love me,” replied the Princess, between her sobs. 

“I will never forsake you again, and I love you 
more than my own life,” answered Prince Almor. 
“But when we were yet happy together, what was it 
came to trouble you and make you weep?” 

“Now I will tell you,” said the Princess, “it 
was because I was blind.” 

“But that had been for many years,” the Prince 
answered, gently, “yet were you happy.” 

“Yes,” responded the Princess, “from the time 
I was a little child. Once I could see, and I dimly 
remember how looked my mother’s face. But, after 
being blind so long, I came not greatly to care to see; 
I only grieved that I was lonely. Then you came 
and I was so happy I forgot that I was blind.” 
The Princess paused and the perplexed Prince said: 

“Then, heart of my heart, why remember it, only 


96 PRINCE ALMOR 

to grieve 1 ? Why not smile and be glad once more?” 

“Because I want to see you,” she broke out. 
The Prince shuddered. 

“Because I know you are so beautiful, and every 
one, down to the meanest slave in your kingdom, 
may look upon your gracious countenance; every one, 
save the wife who loves you more than they all,” 
and she fell to weeping more bitterly than before. 

“But, my beloved,” cried the astonished Prince, 
“it is only because you cannot see me, that you are 
able to love me at all. Were your eyes opened now, 
you would turn from me with hatred and loathing. 
You know I told you in the beginning, how hideous 
I was. At least I have never deceived you,” said 
the poor Prince. 

“I do not believe it,” stoutly asserted the 
Princess. “What, because I am not able to see, can 
I not feel? Have you not often told me,” she 
continued, triumphantly, “that my thoughts were 
always right?” 

“Yes,” groaned the Prince, “but now — ” 

“I do not care, I must see you! I must, or I 
shall die!” 

The Prince tried in vain to comfort her, but she 
kept repeating: 


PRINCE ALMOR 


97 


“I shall die if I do not see you,” until finally, 
she sobbed herself to sleep in his arms. He bore 
her to the palace and gave her in charge of her 
maids. Then he hastened to the seashore. 

The night was far advanced and the moon was 
near its setting. But broader and brighter than 
before stretched the shining pathway, and at the end 
which touched the shore, waited the band of moon- 
fairies. When the Prince had told them all that 
had passed between the Princess and himself, the 
fairy who had before spoken to him, said: 

“The Princess speaketh truly, Prince Almor. If 
she cannot see thee she will surely die, because her 
heart is set upon this one desire.” 

“What then can I do to save her?” asked the 
Prince. “Is there any cure for her?” 

“There is,” answered the moon-fairy, gravely. 

“Oh, what and where is it?” eagerly besought 
the Prince. 

“Remember, Prince Almor, that if the eyes of 
the Princess are opened, she will see — thee!” 

The Prince started. He had for the moment 
forgotten it. And when she saw him, she would 
hate him. Then again, if she remained blind, she 
would die. In awful doubt and distress of mind 


(7) 


PRINCE ALMOR 


98 

the Prince paced the sands, hour after hour, unheed- 
ing of time. The moon set and darkness covered 
both earth and sea; the night breezes swept the 
sands; the waves dashed their salt spray in his face, 
but the Prince saw and felt none of them. 

Lose the Princess, he must. Either she would 
die, being denied her wish, or in the fulfillment of 
it, turn from him and hate him. Then a thought came 
to him, like a ray of light. At least, even if he lost 
her, she, seeing, might yet be happy. And the heart 
of the Prince grew almost glad again. The moon- 
fairies, where were they? They could show him the 
way to serve the Princess. He turned his eyes to 
the sea and upon it broke the dawn. Each tiny 
ripple laughed in the rays of the rising sun and the 
sky flushed like a rose. And the Prince rejoiced as 
does one who has conquered himself. 

All day he waited on the shore, for why should 
he go to the Princess until he had good news to 
take her? So he waited for the night, and the 
coming of the moon-fairies, impatiently. But as 
twilight fell, peace came into his heart, and then he 
saw the moon rise out of the sea, high and higher, 
dripping silver stars over all the heavens. And down 
the path of moonbeams floated his fairy friends. 


PRINCE ALMOR 


99 


“Hast thou chosen, then 1 ?” said the first fairy. 

“I have chosen,” responded the Prince. “Let 

the Princess see.” 

“Know then,” said the fairy, “that thou alone 
can’st find for her the Healing Water. Far away, 
over wide plains and across many waters, rises the 
Crystal Spring in the heart of the Purple Moun- 
tains.” 

“I will go,” said the Prince, simply. 

“Take then this flask,” and the moon-fairy gave 
him a tiny vial of crystal, “for the Water of Heal- 
ing can be held in none other. Turn thy face from 
the sea and follow always the North Star. This 
shall lead thee, after many days, to the Purple 
Mountains, guarding the Crystal Spring. The way 
is long and full of danger, but Love and Courage 
shall overcome all.” 

As the fairy ceased to speak, the band faded 
from Prince Almor’s sight and he hastened to find 
the Princess. 

She heard him gladly. She dried her eyes and 
smiles again wreathed her lips. 

“Now shall we indeed be happy,” she said, 
“when you return. But stay not long, beloved.” 

“The Crystal Spring lies a great way off,” 


100 


PRINCE ALMOR 


began the Prince, but seeing a cloud come over the 
face of the Princess, he added, quickly: 

“But I shall return with the Water of Healing. 
Think only of that, and the time will not seem 
long.” 

And he told her not of the dangers in the way, 
but said farewell as if for but a day and left her 
smiling. 

Truly, though, the way was long and beset by 
many dangers. As he traveled over wide desert 
spaces, under a burning sun, fearful of the robber 
bands which raided them; as he plunged into dark 
forests and heard the howling of savage beasts; 
when the foaming torrent of a river in his path 
threatened to ingulf him; the poor Prince feared 
again and again that he should never reach the 
Purple Mountains. Then he whispered to himself 
the last words of the fairy, “Love and Courage 
shall overcome all,” and was cheered by them. 

At last he saw across a wide, flat country, the 
beautiful Purple Mountains whose peaks seemed to 
touch the sky, and knew his journey almost ended. 
A day and night more and he was in the foothills. 
Another day, and he had crossed a mountain pass 


PRINCE ALMOR 


101 


and descended into a valley, surrounded by the 
circle of Purple Mountains which guard the Crystal 
Spring. Here he lay down to rest and slept until 
morning dawned. 

When he awakened, it was with no sense of 
weariness. He sprang up, fresh and vigorous as 
though his journey had just begun, and surveyed the 
valley beyond. Such a scene of beauty had never 
before met his eyes. The close, green grass was like 
velvet, embroidered with wild flowers of every hue; 
roses clambered over each little knoll and the wild 
clematis flung its snowy sprays from rock to rock; 
birds sang joyously and the murmur of waters fell 
upon his ear. In the center of the valley he could 
see a fountain rising high in air and falling back in 
showers of diamond drops. 

“It is the Crystal Spring!” he cried in delight, 
and hastened toward it. 

As he drew nearer, there seemed to be about it 
a strange barrier. The Prince wondered more and 
more, as he advanced, what it might be, when sud- 
denly it moved. A watchful head was raised and 
the Prince cried out in his terrified surprise. For it 
was an enormous serpent, wound coil on coil about 
the fountain. Awhile the Prince stood dumb with 


102 


PRINCE ALMOR 


fear, then his white lips moved. He was saying: 

“Love and Courage; Love and Courage.” 

Then he drew his sword and advanced upon the 
serpent. The great reptile, waiting silently until he 
was within reach, delivered a lightning blow with 
his head, hurling the Prince backward upon the 
grass. Slightly stunned, but unhurt, the Prince soon 
arose and made another attack, this time going to 
the other side of the fountain. But the fearful 
head moved with him, facing him at every step, and 
as soon as the Prince came again within reach, deliv- 
ered another swift blow, with the same result. 

All day the unequal combat was kept up and 
at nightfall the Prince, utterly discouraged, sat with 
his head in his hands, trying to think of a way to 
gain the fountain. The full, round moon rose in the 
eastern sky, flooding the valley with its light, and 
the Prince finally raised his head and looked at it. 
The thought of his faithful friends came to him and 
he cried: 

“Oh, dear fairies, come to me! I need you now, 
for I have done all I can alone.” A familiar voice 
answered him: 

“Give me the flask,” and the Prince saw beside 
him the moon-fairy. 


PRINCE ALMOR 


103 

He gave the flask into her outstretched hand and 
the fairy flew toward the fountain. Far above the 
head of the watchful serpent she floated and filled 
the tiny crystal vial with the Water of Healing. 
Returning, she gave it to the Prince and vanished 
in the midst of his thanks. Then he lay down and 
slept a deep, deep sleep. 

Yet through it all he was conscious of the flut- 
tering of wings, and of being borne swiftly through 
the air for many leagues. On and on, as the hours 
of the night passed and the Prince slept, the fairies 
bore him to his home, and ere the moon sank to 
rest in the sea, they had laid him gently on the 
sands in the shadow of the palace. 

The morning sunbeams kissed the eyelids of the 
Prince and they opened upon the old, familiar scenes 
of his childhood. He sat up in great surprise, not 
knowing how he came there, and wondering if his 
adventures had been a dream. But no, for in his 
hand was the tiny crystal flask, filled with the 
Water of Healing. Then he sprang up and hurried 
to find the Princess Vea. 

She sat in the garden, her face turned toward 
the gate by which the Prince had left her, waiting, 
as she had sat and waited every day since his 


104 


PRINCE ALMOR 


departure. Her face was pale but there were no 
tears upon it. As the Prince reached the gate, she 
rose. Her quick ears had caught the first sound of 
his feet, and she cried, tremblingly: 

“Is it you, my love?” 

“It is I,” answered the Prince, as he caught her 
in his arms. 

For a long moment neither spoke, then the 
Princess whispered: 

“Have you brought the Water of Healing?” 

“Yes,” he answered, slowly. 

“Then let me see, oh, let me see!” she panted. 

The Prince drew the flask from his breast with 
a sinking heart, then paused for a last look at the 
Princess. When her eyes should open, there would 
be in them only horror and pain at the first sight 
of him, her husband. Then: 

“Why do you wait?” demanded the Princess, 
trembling all over. The poor Prince, tears running 
down his face, murmured to himself : 

“Love and Courage, Love and Courage,” and 
opened the flask. 

His hands were shaking so that half of the 
precious water spilled upon him. A strong shock ran 
through his whole body, but he managed to pour the 


PRINCE ALMOR 


105 

rest upon the eyelids of the Princess. Then he 
closed his own, that he might not see her change, 
and tried to move away. But she held him fast, and 
in a moment he heard a glad cry from her: 

“I see! Oh, beloved, I see!” and she laid her 
head upon his breast. Then she caught him by the 
shoulders, pushed him from her the length of her 
arms, and looked long into his face. Smiling 
through tears, she said: 

“Oh, it was true! Only you are more beautiful 
than I dreamed!” 

The Prince gasped; had her mind gone from her? 
Seeing his bewildered look, she cried: 

“Come then and see,” and dragged him to the 
clear water of a fountain near. He looked in. Who 
was that by the side of the Princess? A tall, 
straight figure; a face of strength and beauty, with 
flashing eyes and dark hair waving above a broad, 
white brow. He looked on every side, but no 
one was in sight, only the Princess mirrored in the 
fountain clinging to that strange figure, as the real 
Princess clung to him. And the truth dawned upon 
the Prince! 

For, of course, you know what had happened. 
When the Prince spilled upon himself the Water of 


io6 


PRINCE ALMOR 


Healing it had beautified him, as it must everything 
it touches. And in that country, they tell to this 
day, the story of the love of Prince Almor for the 
blind Princess, and its reward. 


THE KING’S MISTAKE; 

OR THE PRINCE WHO HAD NO 
FAIRY GODMOTHER 


I T all came about through the Prince’s having no 
fairy godmother, and that was the fault of the 
King. There were seven Princesses and when each 
came, the Queen gave a large ball to the fairies of 
the kingdom, and chose one of the most powerful of 
them as godmother for her little daughter. Each 
time the King said it was really unnecessary, that 
fairy godmothers were going out of style and only 
a few old-fashioned people had them any more. But 
the Queen always answered firmly that she should 
feel safer about her daughters, and that in her 
opinion, no well-regulated Princess should be without 
a fairy godmother. 


107 


108 THE KING’S MISTAKE 

But when the Prince Alfahdin was born, oh, that 
was a different matter! The King swelled visibly 
with pride and satisfaction, and when the Queen 
suggested the usual fairies’ ball, he said: 

“No, Madam! My son needs no assistance from 
any fairy. Being my son, he will be amply able 
to take care of himself.” 

Usually the King was most polite to his wife, 
so when he said: 

“No, Madam!” in that tone of voice, the Queen 
knew it was of no use to try to change his mind. 
So she contented herself by teaching the seven little 
Princesses that they must watch over and care for 
their brother all through life. 

Now, fortunately, there were no bad fairies in the 
kingdom, so although they were somewhat surprised, 
the fairies were not at all angry at the action of 
the King. They shook their wise little heads, 
however, and said His Majesty was making a 
mistake, and the Queen, at least, agreed with them. 

But the Prince grew up like other youths, 
without any serious mishaps, and at twenty was quite 
a fine young man. A little headstrong, perhaps, and 
not given to the taking of advice, but what would 
you have? A youth with seven sisters and a fond 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


109 

mother and father to spoil him, beside a court full 
of people to keep always in his mind that he, and 
he alone, was — the Prince! So when he made up 
his mind to set off alone to seek the Princess Irmen- 
trude, any one who knew him would have been sure 
he would carry out his project. 

Not that there were no objections. The King 
raged, the Princesses pleaded, and the Queen wept. 
But while the Prince winced at his mother’s tears, 
he showed no signs of yielding to them. 

It was all well enough to go seeking the Princess 
Irmentrude; a marriage with her would do credit to 
any kingdom; but why not go in the style befitting 
the son of a great monarch 1 ? Surely the Princess 
herself was worthy such honor. They had never 
seen her, but every caravan which came across the 
desert brought tales of her beauty and wisdom, as 
well as of the wondrous wealth of the kingdom over 
which she reigned alone. Although but seventeen, 
suitors were daily turned sorrowing away from the 
palace doors, after they had failed to win her heart. 

So it was no wonder the Prince longed to see 
this much-sought Princess, and was determined to 
win her for his bride. No one objected to that, only 
to his foolish plan of going alone; but the Prince 


1 10 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


had, none knew why, some equally foolish idea of 
being loved for himself, not for rank nor wealth. 

So he set out one day on his night-black steed, 
Pluto, with his face toward the west, where lay the 
kingdom of the Princess Irmentrude. The King 
would not say good-by nor see him go, but his 
mother’s eyes followed him until tears blinded them, 
and the seven sisters stood on the terrace, in their 
rainbow-colored garments, and waved farewells until 
the Prince and his steed were only a little black 
speck against the setting sun. 

To tell the truth, Prince Alfahdin thought it a 
very fine thing to get off by himself and do as he 
pleased, as though he had not been doing that all 
the twenty years of his life! He and the good horse 
together enjoyed that first wild gallop, and when 
night came on, they stopped by a little rill in a 
grassy meadow. Here the Prince alighted and after 
a plentiful meal from the supplies he carried, lay 
down on the soft turf and slept quite as soundly 
as in his golden bed in the palace. 

The next morning, all in the pink dawn, man 
and horse were eager to get on. They followed the 
little brook until it began to fail. Its shining 
stream grew less and less, it ceased its pleasant 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


in 


chatter and dwindled to a very thread of silver. At 
the last shallow pool the Prince alighted, no longer 
on grassy meadowland, but amid sand and rocks. 
All silently he ate his midday meal, and both he 
and Pluto drank deeply of the clear water, with 
which the Prince filled again his flask. Then some- 
what heartened, they set out again over the desert. 

Sand, sand, sand! Nothing else to be seen ex- 
cept, far to the north, a rim of purple mountains 
in a shimmery, golden haze. All day they galloped 
steadily on, but at nightfall there was still only the 
sand on every side, and a little pool of brackish 
water which Pluto drank eagerly, munching the half- 
withered shrubs which grew at its brink. But he 
whinnied cheerfully when his master stroked his satin 
coat, upon which sparkled a few bright drops, not 
all of dew. 

The next morning they were off again, still 
galloping toward the west where, far out of sight, 
lay the city of the Princess Irmentrude. Toward 
night, the Prince, seeing afar three moving forms 
upon the sand, hastened toward them, thinking to 
find food and guides. But, alas, they proved to be 
three robbers of the desert and, far from befriending 
him , they overpowered him, took from him all he 


112 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


had, beat him, and left him for dead upon the sand. 
Then they rode away, leading Pluto who neighed 
loudly after his master. The Prince had fought 
nobly, but in vain, and when night came he lay as 
one dead upon the desert, in the soft, pitying light 
of the moon. 

It was that night his eldest sister, the Princess 
Prima, could not sleep. She lay in her golden bed, 
thinking of the absent Alfahdin, and watching the 
rosy silken curtains as they swayed gently in the 
breeze. Suddenly her heart gave a great bound, and 
she sprang from her bed, crying: 

“Something dreadful has befallen my brother! 
What shall I do 1 ?” but as she clasped her hands 
together, she felt her ruby ring. This her fairy 
godmother had given her, saying: 

“Whenever you need help, my child, summon 
me.” 

Now all the Princesses slept on the west side 
of the palace, overlooking the gardens, and each had 
under her window a bed of the flowers she loved 
best. The Princess Prima ran to her window, leaned 
far out and dropped her ruby ring down among the 
crimson roses growing beneath. Instantly a little fay 
flew up with it, saying: 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


113 

‘What is your will, Princess? I await your 
commands.” 

The Princess answered, tremblingly: 

“Hasten to my fairy godmother, and beg her 
to come to me immediately.” 

The little fay was off like a streak of flame 
and, before the Princess had time to draw a second 
breath, her godmother stood before her. 

“Oh, Godmother,” gasped the Princess, “I feel 
my brother, the Prince, is in great danger. Help 
him for my sake.” 

“I will,” said the fairy, as she waved her wand 
over the Princess Prima’s head. Immediately she 
felt herself growing smaller and changing in form. 
In a moment of time, she was no longer the Princess 
Prima, but a tiny white hare to whom the fairy said: 

“Go quickly, and do that I shall tell thee.” 

The hare sprang from the window, dashed 
through the gardens, leaped the outer wall and 
skimmed across the desert like an arrow, the fairy 
flying above. When they found the Prince, the little 
hare wept, believing him dead, but the fairy said: 

“Go quickly, get the leaves of yonder plant and 
put them on his wounds. If thou but hasten, he 

shall live.” 

(8) 


ii4 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


So the little hare made haste. Biting off the 
leaves she laid them on his wounds, running to and 
fro until all were covered. 

“It is enough,” said the fairy, and they sped 
back to the palace, where the Princess Prima awoke 
in the morning, in her own little bed behind the rosy 
curtains, with a heart full of peace, sure that all 
was well with her brother. 

As for the Prince, when he was awakened by 
the first sunbeams, he sprang to his feet, feeling 
stronger than ever before in his life. There was 
nothing to do but journey on, so he set his face 
steadfastly toward the west, and vowed he would 
win the Princess yet. 

But the sun rose higher and higher in the 
heavens, beating down upon his head with all the 
force of its fiery rays, until at last he cried out: 

“How can I go farther in this dreadful heat 4 ?” 
and sank down upon the sand. 

At this moment his sister, the Princess Dua, was 
leaning from her window, thinking of him and 
wishing he might have some of the golden oranges 
growing in her garden among their glossy leaves. 
Suddenly a pang shot through her heart, and 
she felt that her brother was in danger. Quickly 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 115 

she unfastened from the chain which bound it to her 
wrist, a little ball of topaz which she tossed down 
among the orange trees. 

Instantly a tiny figure, clothed in chain armor 
which glistened like woven sunbeams, appeared before 
her. Returning the topaz ball, he asked: 

“What are your commands, my Princess?” 

“Call to me, at once, my fairy godmother,” said 
the Princess Dua, and ere she could so much as wink 
an eye, the fairy stood before her. 

“My brother Alfahdin is in danger! Oh, save 
him,” cried the Princess. 

The fairy waved her wand and the Princess 
began to change. Her pretty white hands became 
strong talons, dark feathers grew out upon her, and 
in less time than it takes to tell it, the Princess Dua 
was a great eagle. 

“Go,” said her godmother, “and hover above him 
until the sun goes down.” 

Forth from the window darted the huge bird, 
and in a moment it was only a speck against the 
blue sky. A little later, the Prince looked up to 
find himself covered by a dark shadow and, as he 
plucked up heart to continue his journey, it went 
with him, the outstretched wings fanning him gently. 


n6 THE KING’S MISTAKE 

Even with this protection, for which he was 
most grateful, the Prince suffered frightfully from 
thirst. For several hours he walked bravely on, now 
fancying he could see the shining towers of the city 
of the Princess. But finally he cried: 

“Alas, I shall die of thirst in the desert, though 
I am so near my journey’s end!” 

It was at this time the Princess Tertia, in her 
dainty yellow gown, was strolling through the 
garden, gathering buttercups and wishing for her 
brother, when a terrible certainty came into her mind 
that he needed help. Around her neck was a chain 
from which hung a tiny golden whistle. This she 
raised to her lips and blew a blast upon. At once 
there flew from the flowers at her feet, a little elf 
in buttercup yellow, who said: 

“What would you, Princess'? I am here to 
obey.” 

“Quickly, oh, quickly call my godmother,” 
replied the Princess. 

Before she could take a step forward, the fairy 
was at her side. 

“My brother is in danger, save him!” cried the 
Princess Tertia. 

The fairy smiled and touched her with her 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


117 


wand. In an instant she had vanished, but far out 
on the desert, where the Prince seemed dying of 
thirst, there arose a tall lily, its cup filled with 
water, cool, sparkling, crystal-clear. Eagerly he 
seized the flower, bent his head, and drank every 
drop the lily held. New life flowed through his 
veins and he pressed on again, under the broad 
shadow of the faithful eagle. And in her garden 
the Princess Tertia stood again, her hands filled 
with buttercups. 

But even shade and drink are not all, and the 
Prince had eaten nothing since the day before, the 
robbers having taken what little food he had left. 
The city of the Princess Irmentrude was in sight. 
The last rays of the sun were gilding marble walls 
and porcelain towers, and gleaming upon the golden 
dome of the palace itself. But the Prince was too 
weak to reach them. 

“Alas!” he cried, stretching out his arms toward 
that glittering city, “alas! I can go no farther, 
although the end of my journey is even now in 
sight.” 

He covered his face with his hands and stood 
still, filled with grief. 

It was at that moment the Princess Quatra sat 


n8 THE KING’S MISTAKE 

by the brookside, in her father’s gardens, with the 
swaying fern leaves around her casting darker 
shadows on the green of her gown. Many a time 
had she sat there with her brother, and as she 
thought of him, she knew suddenly that he was in 
danger. Loosening from her throat her pin, an 
emerald leaf, she dropped it in the stream. A tiny 
water nixie, in floating garments of mossy green, rose 
with it, saying: 

“What needs the Princess Quatra 4 ? Let me be 
her messenger.” 

“Go quickly,” cried the Princess, “and fetch my 
godmother here.” 

The circles in the pool were widening still, when 
a wee voice said: 

“Here am I, Quatra.” 

“Oh, Godmother,” cried the Princess, “my 
brother suffers! What can’st thou do for him?’ 

The fairy replied by touching the Princess 
with her wand, and she vanished from the garden. 

Then, out on the desert, as the Prince stood with 
covered face, despairing, there came a rustling sound 
new to his ears. He turned, and beheld a pomegran- 
ate tree, among whose leaves hung clusters of the 
ripe crimson fruit. 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


119 


Thankfully he plucked and ate his fill of them, 
then lay down on the sands, after one long look at 
the twinkling lights of the city. As he slept, some- 
thing dark flew in a window of his father’s palace, 
and a moment later the Princess Dua was fastening 
again to its chain at her wrist, the little topaz ball. 
While down by the brook the Princess Quatra 
clasped at her throat her emerald pin, and hastened 
to join her sisters. 


Part II 


Early in the morning the Prince awoke, and set 
forth on the last of his journey. A few hours’ walk 
brought him to the massive gates of the city. 

“Whence come ye?” asked the warder on the 
wall. 

“From the desert,” replied the Prince. 

“In peace?” questioned the warder. 

“Of a surety/’ answered the Prince. 

“Enter then, and partake of the feast with which 
we celebrate the eighteenth birthday of our beloved 
Princess Irmentrude.” 

The Prince started, it was his own birthday and 
he had forgotten it! What were they thinking of 
him in his kingdom? Did they even dream of the 
hardships through which he had passed? He moved 
slowly along the streets, thinking of his home far 
away. Could he have known the sorrow in that 
home, he would have been more saddened. At dawn 
a caravan from the desert had halted at the gates 
of his father’s city. The chief of its company passed 
120 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


121 


in seeking the King, and leading by his bridle Pluto, 
the Prince’s horse. 

The King, sleepless all the night, had arisen 
early and was pacing up and down in front of the 
palace. The sheik approached and fell on his face 
before him. 

“Arise!” commanded the King, “arise, and tell 
me quickly, whence got ye the steed?” 

“Great King,” answered the man, humbly, “two 
nights ago, as we guarded the sleeping caravan far 
out upon the desert, we spied three robbers hovering 
near. My band gave chase, captured them, and 
with them this horse which at once I knew for the 
Prince’s own. Whereupon we slew them, then 
scoured the plain, but no trace could we find of 
him, thy son.” 

The King bowed his head upon the horse’s neck. 
Then he said: 

“My son is dead,” and turned his face from 
men. 

Great was the grief in the palace. Only the 
Princesses said: 

“He is not dead. Our brother will return,” 
though no one else shared the hope. Yet in the 
city of the Princess Irmentrude, alive and well, the 


122 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


Prince was steadily making his way toward his goal. 

The streets were full of people, all in holiday 
attire; houses were garlanded with flowers; balconies 
were hung with cloth of gold and many-colored 
silken draperies; booths rose here and there where 
the feasting had begun; and all the fountains flowed 
with sparkling wine. 

As the Prince passed along, a gay young fellow 
in hunting-green stepped from a booth and hailed 
him: 

“Thou art a stranger?” 

“Yes,” replied the Prince, “from across the 
desert.” 

“Come then,” said the man, “and share the 
bounty of our Princess. It is free to all.” 

The Prince followed him to one of the heavy 
oaken tables laden with good cheer. 

“Who art thou?” he asked. 

“I am one of our Princess’s hunters. I and my 
merry men have brought in an hundred fat deer for 
this feast.” 

“When does the Princess appear?” questioned 
the Prince. 

“Within the space of an hour. When thou hast 
eaten, we will go forth to meet her.” 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


123 

“Is she as beautiful and wise as rumor saith?” 

“She is fairer than the evening star before the 
moon hath risen, and her wit flashes as the noonday 
sun upon the gilded domes of her palace,” answered 
the hunter. 

“In the far country from which I come, tales 
are told of the suitors who daily throng her doors. 
Why does not your Princess wed?” asked the Prince. 

“It is because of a spell laid upon her by her 
fairy godmother. Her heart is locked, and only he 
who finds the golden key, may hope to marry her.” 

“Where is this golden key?” eagerly inquired the 
Prince. 

“Nay, that no man knoweth; only the Princess 
herself. Some say it is buried in the depths of the 
mountains, where the gnomes keep watch over its 
hiding place; some think it lies in the bottom of the 
fathomless sea, where nixies guard it; others believe 
it hidden in what we call the Tower of the Princess, 
where our lady loves to sit high above her city; 
but none knows, save she, where it really is.” 

“And he who finds it will win the heart of the 
Princess?” 

“Even so; but come, it is time to meet the most 
beauteous lady in the land.” 


124 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


As he spoke, they heard a blare of trumpets, and 
far up the street appeared the cavalcade. Ahead 
rode fifty trumpeters, clad in scarlet and blue, on 
coal-black steeds with scarlet housings; next came 
the guards of the Princess, in white and gold, their 
burnished helmets flashing fire, their splendid white 
chargers prancing gaily to the music which followed; 
quaint brazen drums with tightly-stretched lion skin 
for heads, long silver horns and zithers of tortoise 
shell, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. 

Behind the musicians walked the officers of the 
Court, clad in rustling silken robes of violet and 
amber; last of all the Grand Vizier, whose flowing 
white beard and keen, bright eyes proclaimed his age 
and wisdom. 

Next came she, flower of the kingdom, beloved 
by all her subjects. A royal white elephant paced 
proudly between the rows of admiring people; his 
covering of crimson velvet bore the royal arms in 
gold; his chains were of silver; his driver, blacker 
than ebony, carried an ivory goad set with jewels; 
but within the crimson howdah on his back, sat the 
most precious jewel of them all, the Princess! 

A robe of rich white satin, gold embroidered, 
clothed her; glossy black hair hung in ringlets far 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


125 


below her waist; upon her head was her crown of 
diamonds, while beneath it, her great dark eyes 
flashed more brightly than its gems. As they caught 
sight of her, all the people shouted together: 

“Long live the Princess Irmentrude!” and fell 
upon their faces. 

All but the Prince. He remained standing, 
pressing forward for a nearer view of the Princess. 
As he gazed eagerly upon her, their eyes met and 
her face flushed, rosily. The guards who followed 
her sprang upon the Prince and would have slain 
him, but she waved them back, and stretched out her 
hand to him in token of pardon. 

The cavalcade moved on, the Prince standing as 
one dazed by such wondrous beauty. Then he 
turned and followed the procession to the palace. 
Here, unnoticed in the excitement, he slipped into 
the rose garden and began to study the Tower of 
the Princess which overlooked it. It seemed useless 
to think of climbing its walls; it was exceedingly 
high with no window except at the very top. Soon 
the Prince spied a face at this window, and cried 
out: 

“Oh, must I fail now? Can I not reach her 
yet?” 


126 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


It was at this time his sister, the Princess 
Quinta, standing by her window in her gown of 
blue, sighing for her brother, knew surely, by the 
quic’ b' iting of her heart, he was in trouble. Lean- 
ing out, she struck a chime of little bells beneath 
her window. Up from the forget-me-nots in her 
garden rose a sprite, who said: 

“The Princess calls. Command me and I fly.” 

“Speed then, and bring my godmother to me.” 

While the silver chimes still trembled on the 
air, the fairy appeared before her. 

“My brother, the Prince, needs help. Give it 
him, for my sake.” 

The fairy waved her wand, and the Princess 
Quinta disappeared; but as the Prince stood despair- 
ing, gazing at the Tower of the Princess Irmentrude, 
something moved at its base — an ivy vine, climbing 
fast and faster, making up the side of the smooth, 
gray wall a ladder of tough, brown stems, covered 
with glossy green leaves. It stopped just over the 
window and a moment later, the Prince was making 
his way up, and soon he had leaped in and stood 
before the Princess Irmentrude. 

“Who art thou, daring stranger, who thus seekest 
the Princess of this land?” exclaimed she. 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


127 


Now you must remember that the Prince had 
traveled over part of the desert on foot. The 
brambles had torn his clothes; the sharp rocks had 
cut his shoes; his hair was long and sunburned, and 
his face was scorched with the desert winds. But 
he bore himself bravely; his eyes were bright and his 
voice was clear as he answered: 

“I am a wandering Prince who has left his 
kingdom and braved the terrors of the desert, alone, 
to find the beautiful Irmentrude.” 

The Princess did not look displeased as she 
asked : 

“And now you have found her*?” 

“It is to tell her of my love and implore her 
to be my wife,” replied he, dropping upon his knees. 

“Alas!” she said, and the Prince saw again that 
lovely blush rise to her cheek, “alas, it is not my 
right to answer you. Only the finder of the golden 
key of my heart can hope to call me his,” and she 
buried her face in her hands. Her heart was 
touched, at last. 

“Adorable Princess — ,” began her lover, but she 
cried hurriedly: 

“I hear footsteps. Oh, fly, for even I cannot 
save you if you are found here!” 


128 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


Catching her in his arms, the Prince pressed one 
kiss on her lips, then stepping from the window flew 
down his vine ladder, which disappeared behind him. 
Then, in his father’s palace, the Princess Quinta 
stood once more by her chime of silver bells. 

Into the Tower of the Princess strode the Grand 
Vizier. 

“Your Royal Highness,” he said, “I certainly 
heard voices.” 

“You see I am alone,” replied the Princess. 

“That is true,” said the Grand Vizier, much 
puzzled. He walked to the window and gazed far 
down the smooth wall into the garden, where he 
spied a youth walking. 

“It is quite true,” he repeated, humbly. 

“You may withdraw,” remarked the Princess, 
haughtily, and the Grand Vizier bowed himself out 
of the room. 

“But I will attend to that young man,” he 
muttered, crossly, as he left. 

So he sent an order to the Grand Chamberlain, 
who handed it to the First Gentleman of the Court, 
who passed it on to the Master of Ceremonies, who 
called an under Secretary, who told a page that the 
guards must get rid of a stranger who was in the 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


129 

rose garden. In the meantime the Prince was saying 
to himself: 

“The key, the key! Where is it 4 ? How can I 
find it? Oh, I cannot fail now!” 

And his sister, the Princess Sexta, in her dark 
blue robes, sitting under the cedars in her father’s 
gardens, felt a thrill in her heart and knew her 
absent brother was in distress. She drew her hand 
across the strings of her harp, and a pixie flew from 
the depths of a blue iris growing at her feet. 

“Has the Princess a message to send?” he asked. 
“Let me be the bearer.” 

“Fly to my godmother,” said the Princess, “and 
call her to my aid.” 

An instant more, and the fairy alighted at her 
side. 

“How can I help my brother?” hurriedly asked 
the Princess. “I feel sure he is in trouble.” 

“In this way,” replied the fairy, touching her 
with her wand. 

The Princess dropped her harp, for she felt a 
change coming over her, and that she was dwindling 
in size. In another instant, a little brown mouse 
ran out from under the cedars, through the gardens, 
and out across the desert like a flash of summer 


(9) 


130 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


lightning. Almost within the same moment it had 
entered the city of the Princess Irmentrude, climbed 
the high tower, and from a corner of the room 
watched her with its bright, beady little eyes. 

Her Highness sat in the center of the room, 
quite alone, with a small golden key in her hand. 

“Oh, if I could but give it to him,” she sighed, 
“but that is forbidden me,” and a tear, brighter than 
a diamond, gemmed the little key. Then she dropped 
it in her pocket , for that was the hiding-place she 
alone knew. Her head drooped against the velvet 
cushions of her chair, her eyes closed and she was 
deep in thought. 

It was then the little mouse crept forth. All 
silently she climbed the Princess’s chair, deftly her 
sharp teeth nibbled a hole in the Princess’s pocket, 
and swiftly, with the stolen key in her mouth, she 
flew down the tower wall and dropped it in the 
pocket of the Prince, just as the guard seized him. 
Then, under the cedars of her father’s garden, the 
Princess Sexta was stooping to pick up her silver 
harp. 

“Come, Sirrah, out of the Princess’s garden!” 
thundered the guard, as they hustled and buffeted 
the unfortunate Prince before them. 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


131 

“What shall we do with him?” asked one. 

“Banish him from the city on pain of death,” 
answered the captain of the guard. So they dragged 
the Prince to the gates and pushed him out into the 
desert, the massive portals swinging to behind him. 

As he stood in the light of the setting sun and 
gazed out over the sandy plain before him, his heart 
sank and despair again seized him. 

“Alas, this is worst of all ! What can I do 
now?” he cried, with almost breaking heart. 

At this moment his youngest sister, the Princess 
Septa, slipped by the drowsy warders at the gates 
of her father’s city, and stood looking toward the 
west. She shaded her eyes with her hand from the 
long level rays of the declining sun, while her violet 
silken garments fluttered in the evening breeze. 

Her heart was with her brother, and a sudden 
sharp pang warned her of some threatened danger to 
him. Loosening from her fair braids a silver arrow, 
she tossed it far into the air. As it fell back into 
her hands, she perceived astride of it, a tiny creature 
in violet who said: 

“Hast thou commands for me, Princess? I am 
swift to obey.” 

“Call quickly my godmother,” said the Princess, 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


132 

and ere she could return the arrow to her hair, the 
fairy floated down a sunbeam. 

“What would my Septa?” she asked. 

“My brother needs help. Save him, lest he 
perish!” cried the Princess. The fairy touched her 
with her magic wand, and behold! in all the plain 
one could see no living thing, save a milk-white 
steed flying upon the wings of the wind into the 
golden west. 

The Prince, standing without the barred gates 
of the city of the Princess Irmentrude, heard a gentle 
neighing behind him, and wheeling swiftly, saw 
there a snowy charger. He mounted quickly and 
turned his steed toward the east. 

How they flew! The sandy desert glided from 
under them and a long train of sparks, struck out by 
flying feet, marked their trail. The Prince had taken 
but three full breaths when he alighted before his 
father’s gate. His fleet steed disappeared, and he 
fell into the arms of his favorite sister, the Princess 
Septa. 

After their first joyous greetings they turned 
toward the palace, and Septa asked him: 

“Did you find the Princess Irmentrude?” 

“Yes,” answered the Prince, sadly, “but — ,” and 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


133 


just then he carelessly put his hand into his pocket 
and his fingers closed upon the little golden key! 
He drew it forth and knew at once it could be 
nothing save the key to the heart of the Princess. 

“But,” he continued, triumphantly, “I return in 
state, to claim her for my bride.” 

Great were the rejoicings when the Prince 
appeared in the palace. The sisters looked at each 
other as though to say: 

“We knew he would return.” 

And the very next day, such a caravan set forth 
as never before had been seen upon the desert. The 
swiftest camels laden with tents, supplies for the 
journey, and gifts for the Princess Irmentrude; horses 
of the finest breed which bore them rapidly over the 
sands, King, Queen, Prince, and the seven Princesses, 
and landed them at the gates of that city which so 
lately had thrust out the Prince. As the cavalcade 
halted, the warder appeared, and bowing low, said: 

“Whence come ye, noble sirs, and what seek 
ye?’ 

“I come to demand the hand of the Princess 
Irmentrude,” answered Prince Alfahdin. 

“Alas, that ye cannot have, nor any other,” the 
warder said, sadly. 


134 


THE KING’S MISTAKE 


“What mean ye? Speak!” commanded the 
Prince, his face paling. 

“Only that the golden key to the heart of the 
Princess is lost, and all the kingdom mourns,” replied 
the warder. 

“Nevertheless,” said the Prince, the color return- 
ing to his face, “I will make my request of the 
Princess,” and the cavalcade passed in at the gates, 
and moved to the doors of the palace. 

When his name and titles had been announced, 
the Prince and his party entered the great Council 
Hall where sat the pale Princess, surrounded by her 
Court. When she looked up and saw the Prince, 
once more that exquisite rosy flush crept over her 
face. Then she sighed and looked down. 

The King advanced to the throne and formally 
requested for his son, Prince Alfahdin, the hand of 
the Princess. The Grand Vizier, who stood at her 
left, bowed low and answered thus: 

“Most August Monarch! In response to your 
request I must reply that, by an unchangeable law 
of this kingdom, only he can hope to win the hand 
of the royal Princess Irmentrude, who holds the 
golden key of her heart.” 

The Prince came a step nearer, drew something 


THE KING S MISTAKE 


135 


from his pocket and laid it in the Princess’s lap. She 
gave a start, a little cry, and then held out both 
hands to the Prince. The Grand Vizier stooped, 
picked up a small object which had fallen to the 
floor, and exclaimed: 

“The key!” 

You must imagine the wedding which took place 
the next day, with all the fairies present. The 
ceremonies were gorgeous beyond description, and 
during the feast, the seven fairy godmothers recited 
the adventures of the seven Princesses. The Prince 
was astonished when he heard how his sisters had so 
often saved him from danger; the Princesses gave the 
credit to their fairy godmothers; the gentle Queen 
rejoiced that she had so well provided for her 
children; but the King was much humbled, and said: 

“Never again will I think fairy godmothers are 
useless. I will furnish my grandchildren with a half 
dozen each.” 

The fairies smiled gently, and said one would be 
quite enough. Then arose the godmother of the 
Princess Irmentrude, who was also the Queen of all 
the fairies, and said: 

“Oh, King, give yourself no further uneasiness 
about your son, the Prince. I will watch over him, 


136 THE KING’S MISTAKE 

as well as over the Princess. They shall be my 
especial care; I will guide them by my counsels; 
happiness shall be theirs; and the blessings of a 
grateful people shall cause the names of Prince 
Alfahdin and Princess Irmentrude to live forever in 
the land.” 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


H E WAS a very handsome young dragon; at 
least, so thought his fond parents. He was 
covered with glittering scales which on his body and 
wings shaded from blue to green like a peacock’s 
breast. They were golden on his feet and the tips 
of his wings, while his head glowed like a ruby, his 
little emerald eyes deep set in it. The effect as he 
flew about in the sunshine was quite gorgeous. 

He lived with his father and mother in the heart 
of a mountain, the entrance to which was a cave in the 
side. 

Now the young dragon’s father was one of the 
most influential members of the community and the 
prominent dragons often gathered in his home to talk 
over the questions of the age. Their most engross- 
ing topic was: 

“What shall be our attitude toward man?’ 

The Conservative dragons contended that it 
137 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


138 

should be entirely external (the dragon outside of 
the man), but the young dragon’s father, who was 
the head of the Liberal party, said this was all wrong. 

In olden times, he conceded, when knights went 
about with the avowed intention of slaying dragons, 
such sentiments were natural (not that he wondered 
at the knights when dragons so far forgot themselves 
as to carry off young and edible princesses), but, in 
these enlightened times, there should be peace be- 
tween the races. Dragons could be useful to men 
and, possibly, men might even be of use to dragons. 

At this, the members of the Conservative party 
smiled, derisively. 

There were occasions when the discussions grew 
so heated that the flames poured from the dragons’ 
nostrils. These came out at the top of the mountain 
and caused the people living near to observe, anx- 
iously. 

“The volcano seems very active to-night. I fear 
we may look for an eruption soon.” 

The young dragon had been carefully trained by 
his parents to look upon man as a friend, and was 
even taught his speech. One evening, as he was 
strolling alone in the forest, he walked, with the 
heedlessness of the young, into a trap. It had not 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


139 


been set for him, but for the Killiowhacs which in- 
fested the mountain side. He struggled to escape, 
but only succeeded in tangling himself more firmly 
in the ropes of green withes at the bottom of the 
trap. Here he hung all night, in the most painful 
position. Early in the morning, however, he per- 
ceived a horseman approaching and immediately 
closed his left eye. This rendered him invisible and 
he had no wish to frighten the steed of the traveler. 
Then he accosted him, thus : 

“Kind sir, will you be good enough to come to 
the assistance of a struggling creature?” 

The horseman started and looked about him. 
Seeing no one he asked: 

“Who speaks to me?” 

“I,” said the young dragon. “If you will but 
tie your horse a little way off, out of sight, I will 
become visible.” 

The youth, full of curiosity to discover from 
whence came the mysterious voice, complied with its 
request, then advanced toward the trap. 

The young dragon opened his left eye and the 
traveler stopped, suddenly. 

“Nay,” quoth the dragon, “fear nothing. You 
see I am quite helpless and in great pain. If you 


140 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


will take your sword and cut the withes I shall be 
most grateful.” Seeing the youth still hesitated, he 
continued : 

“I will not only be grateful, but will hold my- 
self bound, on the honor of a dragon, to do you 
service.” 

The stranger hesitated no longer, but, advancing 
to the trap, cut with his sharp sword the snare which 
bound the dragon. As he drew himself painfully 
out, the young dragon said : 

“I am unutterably thankful to you, noble sir. 
May I ask to whom I owe my life and my free- 
dom?” 

“I am Prince Yotun, ruler of this country,” re- 
plied his deliverer. The young dragon bowed low as 
he responded: 

“Now my service and, indeed, my life are yours, 
should you need them, to the end of my years, and 
that is no short term. What is your Royal High- 
ness’s age?” 

“Twenty years,” answered the Prince. 

“Ah,” remarked the dragon, “I am over eighty, 
but that is very young, as we dragons usually live 
to a thousand years. Take this scale,” he continued, 
detaching one from his back, “and whenever you 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


141 

need my services present it at the cave in yonder 
mountain side.” 

“The fire mountain?” said the Prince. 

“Oh, do you call it that?” said the young 
dragon, smiling. The Prince drew back a little ; 
dragons smile very broadly. 

After a few more words the Prince mounted his 
steed and rode away, while the young dragon, whose 
wings were too bruised to use, limped painfully to 
his home. Once arrived there, his mother bound up 
his wounds with an ointment made from the marrow 
of the Ichthyosaurus, after a recipe which had been 
in her family for aeons, and in a few days he was 
well again. 

It was some time after this that, as the young 
dragon sat at the mouth of the cave, he saw ap- 
proaching a horse and rider, and thoughtfully closed 
his left eye. A nearer view, however, caused him to 
exclaim : 

“The Prince!” and hasten toward him. In his 
surprise he opened his eye, whereupon the horse 
reared in terror. The Prince controlled him and the 
dragon immediately became invisible, apologizing for 
his thoughtlessness. 

“How can I serve your Royal Highness?” he 


142 THE YOUNG DRAGON 

inquired. The Prince, who was looking haggard and 
wan, replied: 

“My betrothed, the Princess Uralia, has been ab- 
ducted by the giant Borumgum and carried off to his 
castle. I am now on my way to rescue her and 
came to ask if you could render me any assistance.” 

“Certainly,” said the young dragon, “I am proud 
to do so. If your Highness will remain here I will 
run and fetch her.” 

“Oh, no!” exclaimed the Prince, “I cannot con- 
sent to that. I must myself hasten to her relief at 
once.” 

“Oh, very well,” said the young dragon, “you 
go on and I will meet you there.” Saying which, he 
spread his wings and flew away to the giant’s castle. 

Arrived there he circled around until he espied, 
at a window in a high tower, a maiden pale with 
weeping. He flew close to her and said: 

“Excuse me, but is this the Princess Uralia 1 ?” 

The Princess was much surprised at the voice, 
which apparently came from the air, as the dragon 
was invisible, but she answered: 

“It is indeed the unfortunate Princess Uralia, in 
the power of that detestable giant Borumgum. But 
who speaks to me?” 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


143 

“A friend of the Prince Yotun, who is bound to 
do him service for service rendered.” 

“Oh,” exclaimed the Princess, who was a quick- 
witted little thing, “you must be the dragon whose 
life he saved. You may open your left eye, I shall 
not be alarmed.” 

“Now that is sensible,” thought the young 
dragon, as he complied. The sun was shining upon 
his brilliant scales and the Princess exclaimed: 

“What lovely colors you are! I am glad to have 
seen you.” The young dragon was much flattered. 

“Get upon my back,” said he, moving close to 
the window, “and I will return you to your father’s 
palace.” The Princess obeyed and they started. 

In the meantime the Prince Yotun had arrived 
at the castle gates. He tethered his steed outside 
and, creeping through a crack, entered the great 
courtyard where he found the giant Borumgum (who 
was fifty feet high) standing in front of his door. 
Advancing toward him the Prince exclaimed, loudly: 

“Wretch, instantly restore to me my betrothed, 
the beautiful Princess Uralia!” 

“Eh?” said the giant, surprised, looking all 
around him. 

“Release the Princess Uralia, at once!” shouted 


144 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


the Prince. Here the giant discovered him and, 
smiling good-naturedly, said: 

“Oh, it’s you, is it 1 ? Now what do you want?” 
and, to bring himself a little nearer to the level of 
the Prince, he sat down upon his doorstep. Once 
more the Prince angrily repeated his demand for the 
release of the Princess, but the giant shook his head. 

“Couldn’t think of it,” he said, “she is a very 
beautiful Princess and I want her to look at. I 
believe,” he added, thoughtfully, “I shall keep her 
for a mantel ornament.” 

This made the Prince furious and he drew his 
sword and slashed at the giant’s foot. 

“Ouch!” roared the giant as he jumped up, “see 
here, youngster, don’t you know it’s rude to stick 
pins into people?” and he went into his castle in 
high dudgeon and banged the door after him. 

It was useless for the Prince to think of open- 
ing it, but while he was debating what to do next, 
he heard a voice saying: 

“If your Highness will climb up on my back I 
will take you to the palace,” and there was the 
young dragon with the Princess Uralia. 

The Prince joyfully embraced his betrothed, 
then, creeping out through the crack of the great 


THE YOUNG DRAGON 


H5 


gate, he untied his steed and turned his head toward 
home, knowing the good horse could be trusted to 
find his way to the royal stables. Then he mounted 
the dragon’s back, and as they flew toward the 
palace of the Princess she told him of her capture 
by the giant Borumgum and her rescue by the young 
dragon. 

“After I have seen you safely home,” said the 
dragon, “I will collect some of my Conservative 
friends and we will return and dispose of the giant. 
He is really getting to be a nuisance.” 

Arrived at her home, both Princess and Prince 
lavished thanks upon him, but the young dragon, 
complacently twirling his moustache, said: 

“Do not mention it, your Royal Highnesses. It 
was really a very little thing, for me.” 

“At least,” said the Princess, unfastening from 
her neck a long and massive golden chain, “at least, 
I must beg you to accept this slight token of my 
gratitude,” and she clasped it about his throat. 

Blushing with pleasure (and when a red-headed 
dragon blushes he turns a beautiful heliotrope), the 
young dragon said he would wear the chain all his 
life. And he did, although, of course, when he shut 

his left eye it did not affect the gift of the Princess, 

( 10 ) 


146 THE YOUNG DRAGON 

and people were often much surprised to see a heavy 
golden chain floating through mid-air. 

The next day the wedding of Prince Yotun and 
Princess Uralia was celebrated with great splendor 
in her father’s palace, the young dragon (with his 
left eye closed) looking on from one of the open 
windows. 

That evening, as he sat alone in front of the 
cave, he said to himself: 

“My father and mother were right; human 
beings are very interesting and agreeable and — ” 
here the young dragon sighed, gently, — “and fasci- 
nating.” 

He was thinking of the Princess. 





































































































































































“So they sat staring at each other ” 


Page 140 


THE RED TROLL 


L ILLO lay under the big oak tree, sound asleep. 

Above him in the leafy boughs, two squirrels 
were chattering, but even if he had been awake, he 
would not have known they were chattering about 
him. The gray squirrel peeped down through the 
leaves and exclaimed: 

“What is that curious object down there? Oh, 
horror, it looks like a BOY!” 

The red squirrel drew herself up a little stiffly. 
“It certainly is a boy,” she said. “It is our 
Lillo.” 

“My dear,” answered the gray squirrel, with an 
affected little shiver, “how brave you are. But I 
could never be so calm with one of the cruel creat- 
ures near me.” 

“Cruel! our Lillo cruel! Why he is the kindest 
friend we have. He is busy all the autumn gather- 
ing nuts to feed us through the winter. Every 
H7 


THE RED TROLL 


148 

morning he spreads them out on that great flat rock 
you see, which he calls ‘the Squirrels’ Table.’ And 
there he puts crumbs for the birds, too. Our Lillo 
cruel 1 ? Nonsense!” and the red squirrel stopped, in- 
dignant and out of breath. The gray squirrel gave 
an airy flirt to her bushy tail and replied: 

“Oh, very well, my love, if you choose to take 
the risk. I must be going, though, as I am quite 
nervous at being so near such a creature. Do go a 
little way with me until I am well out of danger.” 
The two scampered off into the heart of the forest, 
and everything was quiet again. 

Presently Lillo stirred, then lazily opened his 
eyes. Such a very curious sight greeted them that 
he thought he must be dreaming. But no, for when 
he sat up and opened them to their utmost width, 
the thing which had startled him remained the same. 
It was a little man, about a foot high, seated on the 
edge of the big rock which Lillo called “the Squir- 
rels’ Table,” his hands clasped around one knee, his 
foot swinging carelessly. He was clothed all in 
bright red, from his pointed cap to his tiny pointed 
shoes, and the gay clothes fitted his thin little body 
almost as tightly as his skin. His brown face looked 
like those you sometimes carve from hickory nuts 


THE RED TROLL 


149 


and, if he had any hair, it must have been the same 
color. His eyes, like two little black beads, twinkled 
as he looked at Lillo. The boy’s big brown ones 
were fastened earnestly on him, and so they sat star- 
ing at each other. 

“Well, well,” exclaimed the little man, “why 
don’t you speak? You’ve a tongue in your head, 
haven’t you?” 

“Yes,” answered Lillo. “Will you please tell 
me who you are?” 

“Certainly. I’m the Red Troll.” 

“I’ve never seen you before. Do you live near 
here?” asked Lillo. 

The troll gave a cackle. 

“That’s good,” he said. “I’ve lived near here a 
good many more years than you have, young man. 
Indeed, I’ve known you nearly as many years as 
you’ve known yourself. And I’ve heard about you, 
too. When a boy gathers nuts to feed the squirrels 
through the cold winter; when he does not forget to 
strew crumbs for the birds; when he has been seen, 
in very hot, dry weather, carrying water from the 
brook to pour around the roots of the violets; why I 
think it high time I should pay him a visit.” 

“But I like to do all those things!” said Lillo. 


150 


THE RED TROLL 


“And I like the boy who does them,” cried the 
troll, jumping lightly from the stone. “How would 
you like to go home with me now, to return my 
visit?” 

“I should like it very much,” answered Lillo, 
who began to feel that this was going to be an ad- 
venture. “Where do you live?” 

“Oh, down here,” said the troll. “Just lift up 
this stone,” and he waved his hand toward the huge 
rock upon which he had been sitting. 

“That!” said the astonished boy. “Why, I can- 
not lift that great stone!” 

“Ever try?” snapped the troll. 

“Why, no, but—” 

“Then try now,” said the little man. 

Obediently Lillo put his hands against the rock 
and pushed. To his surprise it swung lightly up at 
his touch, showing underneath a flight of steps. 
Down these the troll skipped, calling to Lillo to fol- 
low. As he did so, the big stone slid noiselessly 
into place, shutting them out from the daylight and 
the green earth above. 

It was not dark, however, and Lillo looked about 
him with interest. He stood in a long, narrow pas- 
sage, its walls hung with soft gray moss, while many 


THE RED TROLL 


151 

twinkling little lights glowed from the roof. They 
looked like fairy lamps, burning with a clear, soft 
flame, and in their light he saw the troll scurrying 
ahead. 

“Come on, come on,” he cried impatiently, and 
Lillo followed. 

He led the way into a hall which to the boy 
seemed only a large room, but the little man turned 
and looked at him with an air of pride, saying: 

“Great, isn’t it? You did not expect to find 
such an immense place as this, did you?” 

“No,” answered Lillo. “What is it for?” 

“We hold our meetings here,” said the troll. 
Seeing the boy did not understand him, he added: 
“We trolls, and all the gnomes, elves, and wood- 
sprites who live in and under the forest. There is 
a great deal of business to be attended to.” 

Lillo looked about him. The walls were hung 
with gray moss, like the passage, and there were a 
number of seats which looked like mushrooms, 
gathered around a stone platform. At the far end 
of the room a fire was burning, and he eyed it with 
curiosity. Presently he went closer, then exclaimed: 

“Why, this is not wood burning! It is stone, 
black shiny stone!” 


152 


THE RED TROLL 


“No, no,” cried the troll, “no wood is burned 
here. Too many use our beautiful trees for fires, 
now. But come and see my study.” He led him to 
a tiny room opening from the larger, too small for 
Lillo to enter. As he looked in he saw that walls 
and floor were covered with soft, green moss, a 
mossy couch being the only furniture. 

“A study!” he exclaimed, puzzled. “Where are 
the books'?” 

“Books!” cried the troll, with contempt in his 
voice, “I have no books! There would be only other 
men’s thoughts in them. When I have much to de- 
cide, I come here alone and study out my own prob- 
lems. And if more of the people who live on top 
of the ground did this, the work of the world would 
be better done. But now come and see my garden.” 

They passed out of the hall into a large open 
space, reaching farther than Lillo could see. He 
looked down, expecting to find flower beds, but only 
the bare ground stretched before him. A curious sort 
of ladder made of tree boughs, stood near, and up 
this the troll was climbing, nimbly. As the boy 
watched him, he saw that from the roof of this queer 
garden hung roots of all sorts, large and small, 
coarse and fine. The little man turned from one to 


THE RED TROLL 


153 


another, picking off a worm here, straightening out 
a tangle there, or watering them from a small can 
he carried. Lillo stared at him, too astonished to 
speak. The Red Troll looked down and broke into 
his dry cackle. 

“Never saw a garden like this, did you? Ah, 
you people up above! You are too apt to look only 
at the surface. Don’t you know the under side of 
things has to be watched and tended or there will 
be neither bloom nor fruit above? There’s a good 
deal for you to learn, my boy, but I mean to take 
your education in hand, myself. Hello, there!” he 
cried suddenly, and running down the ladder, he 
seized an acorn cup from the wall and clapped it to 
his ear. The boy had only time to see it was fast- 
ened to a long root, when the troll said: 

“You are wanted, Lillo. The head-forester’s wife 
is calling you.” 

“My mother,” said Lillo. 

“Um-m-m,” grunted the troll, but whether he 
meant yes, or no, it would be hard to say. They 
were hurrying through the passage when Lillo 
stopped and asked the troll: 

“How did you know my mother wanted me?” 

“Oh, I know more than you think,” twinkled the 


154 


THE RED TROLL 


little man. “The birds bring all the news to the 
squirrels in the oak tree and they let me know, as 
you just now saw. But here we are. Good-by, 
Lillo.” 

“I have had a very pleasant visit, sir,” said the 

boy. 

“Have you?” cried the troll. “Why then, come 
again whenever you like. You will always be able 
to lift the stone, unless — ,” and he gave his dry 
cackle, — “unless I should be away from home. Then, 
of course, I should lock my front door behind me.” 

“Thank you,” answered Lillo. “I shall be glad 
to come.” He gave a slight push to the great stone 
which lifted gently, then slid back into place after 
he was out in the forest. He ran briskly toward his 
home, calling: 

“Coming, mother, coming.” 

A plump and smiling little woman met him at 
the door. 

“Why, where have you been, son?” she asked. 
“I have called and called you.” 

“Oh, mother,” he answered, “I have had such a 
fine time. I have been to visit the Red Troll.” 

“The Red Troll!” the woman exclaimed, aston- 
ished. 


THE RED TROLL 


155 


“Yes, I have been in his house under ‘the Squir- 
rels’ Table.’ ” Then he told her of his adventure. 
But she only laughed, patting his brown head as she 
shook her own, and saying: 

“You have had a great dream, dear. You must 
have slept a long time.” 

He felt surprised that she should not believe 
him, but grown folks’ ways are sometimes hard to 
understand, and he soon forgot about it. 

Now Lillo knew that he was not in truth the 
child of the good couple who called him son. He 
had been told the story how, some ten years before, 
the forester and one of his woodmen had been 
startled at hearing a child’s cry in the depth of the 
forest. They followed the sound until they came 
upon a man lying faint and weary on the moss, 
with a little cold, hungry child sobbing at his side. 
They took them both to the forester’s home, but the 
man was too weak and ill to speak. When he had 
been helped to bed, the forester’s wife brought him 
the child, warmed and fed. As the baby hand patted 
his face, he opened his eyes and murmured: 

“Lillo, Lillo, my son — ,” then closed them in a 
sleep from which he never wakened. In his cloak 
they found a letter which they could not read, and 


THE RED TROLL 


156 

seeing no other way to provide for the child, the 
good couple took him for their own. 

From the first day of his meeting with the troll, 
Lillo had a new interest in life. Many more visits 
followed, and always he came home with something 
to think of. One day, however, he did not find his 
friend as usual in the hall. He stood a moment 
waiting for him, when he heard a sound of sobbing. 
Stepping to the door of the study he looked in. On 
the couch was stretched, face downward, a tiny man 
dressed all in green, sobbing out his heart, while the 
Red Troll bent over him trying to comfort him. He 
looked up and seeing Lillo, came out into the hall. 

“Who is it 1 ?” whispered the boy. 

“One of the tree-elves,” said the troll. “He is 
in great distress.” 

“What is the matter"?” 

“Only the King’s order to cut his winter supply 
of wood,” answered the little man, “but it will take 
many beautiful trees. The elf you saw crying will 
lose his home, and not only he, but many others.” 

“Do they live in the trees’?” asked Lillo with 
deep interest. 

“Yes, each tree has its elf, and when they are 
cut down, many mourn.” 


THE RED TROLL 


157 

Lillo sat silent for some time, thinking. Then 
he asked, eagerly: 

“Why doesn’t the King burn the black stone as 
you do?” 

“He knows nothing about it,” answered the troll, 
“although his land is full of it.” 

“Why does no one tell him?” cried the boy. 

“No one knows but you,” said the troll, looking 
at him, keenly. 

“I? Oh, I am only a boy. Would he believe 
me, do you think?” 

“Go and see,” said the Red Troll, gravely. “We 
can only find out by trying. The gnomes will show 
you where the stone is to be found, then you shall 
take some to the King.” 

It seemed a great thing to Lillo that he should 
go to see the King. He was almost afraid, but 
when he thought of the unhappy tree-elves, he made 
up his mind to try. So soon as he had told the troll 
this, the little man exclaimed: 

“That is right, Lillo. Be willing to help those 
in distress, at whatever cost to yourself. Come to- 
morrow and the gnomes will show you where the 
black stone is found.” 

The boy did as he was bid, and what curious 


THE RED TROLL 


158 

creatures he found awaiting him! They were larger 
than the troll, almost up to Lillo’ s knee, sturdy fel- 
lows with their picks over their shoulders. Silent, 
too, but the Red Troll, who went also, could talk 
enough for the whole party. 

In a lonely mountain side, not far away, there 
was a great hole. Into this they crawled and pres- 
ently found themselves in a passage high enough for 
a man to stand in, hewn out of the black, shiny 
stone. 

“This leads,” said the troll, “to halls and cham- 
bers where are stored stones enough to last for a 
hundred years. These friends of mine, with other 
gnomes, have dug it from the earth and will be glad 
to have the King use it for his fires.” 

Lillo looked at the gnomes, who solemnly nod- 
ded their heads. Then one of them filled the bag 
which hung over his shoulder with large square 
blocks of stone, and gave it to Lillo. 

“You are to take it to the King,” explained the 
troll, “and persuade him to use it and spare the 
trees.” 

“I will try,” answered the boy. 

But he slept little that night, for he was plan- 
ning how to see the King and speak with him. 


THE RED TROLL 


159 


However, when a thing should be done, and some- 
one is willing to do it, the way is very apt to open. 
The next morning a messenger came to tell the head- 
forester that the King would ride out in his woods 
that day, and he was to meet him and show him 
around. 

“May I go with you, father 1 ?” cried Lilio. 

“Yes, indeed. It will be a great chance for you 
to see the King.” 

So, with his excitement shining in his eyes, the 
boy set out with the forester, both dressed in their 
holiday clothes, to wait under the big oak for the 
coming of the King. And oh, how fast his heart beat 
when he heard the horse’s feet and saw the party of 
fine lords and gentlemen riding toward them, the 
King at their head. The forester took off his cap 
and bowed very low, and Lilio did the same. After 
a few words to the man, the King turned his kindly 
eyes on the boy. 

“Your son?” he asked the forester. 

“Yes, your Majesty,” for he rarely remembered 
Lilio was not his very own. 

“A good son, I hope,” smiled the King. 

“No man ever had a better, your Majesty,” 
stoutly answered the forester. 


160 THE RED TROLL 

“That is well. Now both of you come and show 
me the trees ready for cutting.” 

Lillo turned cold with anxiety, but he said noth- 
ing and the party moved slowly through the forest. 
The boy kept very close to the King, sometimes 
holding back a low bough that it might not strike 
him, sometimes leading the horse around or over a 
fallen log, always rewarded by a smile or word of 
thanks from the rider. 

“It seems a great pity to cut down these beau- 
tiful trees,” sighed the King, half to himself. 

“Oh, your Majesty, if only you could spare 
them!” said the boy, earnestly. The King smiled. 

“You must love them,” he said, “living among 
them as you do.” 

“I do, but it is the poor little tree-elves I am 
so sorry for,” answered Lillo. 

“The tree-elves!” exclaimed his Majesty, “Why, 
what are they 1 ?” 

“They live in the trees,” explained the boy. 
“Each one has taken care of his own tree since it 
was a sapling, and oh, if you only could know how 
they are mourning now, you would never take their 
homes away from them.” 

“Rut I must have wood to keep my palace warm 


THE RED TROLL 161 

when the winter comes,” answered the King, “so I 
fear your little elves must lose their trees.” 

Just then several of the court gentlemen rode 
up, and Lillo found no opportunity to speak again. 

The next morning, with a heavy heart, he 
started to tell the troll what the King had said. 
As he stood under the oak tree he heard footsteps 
and voices of men. Presently a dozen or more ap- 
peared, and seeing him, one of them said: 

“Have you found anything?” 

“No,” answered Lillo, surprised at the question. 

“Yesterday,” said the man, “the King lost his 
seal with which he seals his state papers. He thinks 
it may have dropped in the forest, and we have 
come to search. A large reward is offered for it.” 

They passed on into the wood and when they 
were out of sight, the boy lifted the stone and ran 
down to see the Red Troll. He found the little 
man in his garden, perched on the top of his ladder, 
busy with his plants. 

“What success, Lillo?” he cried. 

“None at all,” answered the boy. “I do not 
think the King believed when I told about the elves, 
and he said he must have wood to keep his palace 
warm.” 


( 11 ) 


162 


THE RED TROLL 


“Yes, I know,” nodded the troll. “Whom did 
you see this morning 4 ?” 

“Some men who were searching for a seal the 
King had lost.” 

“Why not go and find it?” asked the troll. 

“I?” said the boy. “I would not know where to 
look.” 

The Red Troll sat down on the top of his lad- 
der, folded his arms, and looked at his visitor. 

“Lillo,” he said, rather severely, “when will you 
learn to go and do a thing without making objec- 
tions?” 

“Right now,” said the boy, laughing. “Tell me 
what you want me to do.” 

“Go up to the forest, stand with your back 
against the oak tree, facing north. Then take one 
hundred steps straight ahead, and wait.” 

“Good-by,” called Lillo, as he ran out of the 
garden. He was soon in the wood with his back 
against the tree. Then he began to move forward, ( 
counting his steps. When he reached the hundredth 
he paused and looked around, but no sign did he 
see of the King’s seal. Then he heard a timid little 
voice say: 

“Are you Lillo?” He looked up to see a tiny 


THE RED TROLL 


163 

face peeping out from among the leaves overhead. 

“Yes,” he answered. “The Red Troll sent me.” 

A little green elf swung himself down and stood 
on a log at the boy’s side. 

“We heard you, yesterday, begging the King to 
spare our trees, and so we have found his seal for 
you.” He laid it in Lillo’s hand. 

“For me 1 ?” cried the boy, in delight. 

“Yes. When you take it to the palace, the 
King will offer you a reward. Then you can tell 
him about the shiny black stones and show him how 
they burn. Perhaps then he will spare our homes.” 

“Oh, if he only will!” cried Lillo. “I will go 
at once.” And thanking the elf, he ran quickly 
through the wood, not knowing that from every tree 
a little green man was watching him and hoping for 
his success. 

Stopping at home for his bag of shiny stones, and 
clutching the precious seal tight in his hand, he set 
off for the palace. At the great gateway the guard 
would have stopped him, but Lillo said: 

“I want to see the King. I have found his seal,” 
and he opened his hand. 

“What luck!” cried the soldiers, as they saw it. 

“Here, boy, come with me,” said one. “The 


THE RED TROLL 


164 

King will be glad to see you.” And, indeed, he 
was, when Lillo had been shown into his room and 
had given him the seal. 

“I have offered a very large sum of money for 
this,” said the King, “and it shall be paid to you.” 

“Your Majesty,” said the boy, earnestly, “might 
I have something else, instead of money?” 

The King looked at him in surprise. 

“What would you like?” he asked. 

Lillo gazed around. There was a fire burning 
on the hearth, for the palace was rather cold and 
damp even this bright spring day. He put down 
the bag and took from it some of the shiny black 
stones. 

“May I put these on the fire?” he said. 

“You will put it out,” answered the King, “but 
do as you like.” 

Lillo laid them on the glowing red coals, while 
the King watched in silence. Presently they began 
to burn and crackle, and in a little while were 
throwing out such a cheerful, ruddy blaze, that the 
King was delighted. 

“It is wonderful,” he cried, “wonderful! Where 
did you get them? Are there more?” 

“Oh, yes,” answered the boy, “the hillside is 


THE RED TROLL 165 

full of them. The Red Troll says the gnomes have 
enough there to last you a hundred years.” 

“If I find this to be true, I will double the re- 
ward I meant to give you,” said the King. Lillo 
came close to him and looked up into his kind eyes. 

“And will you spare the elves’ trees!” he asked, 
eagerly. 

“I will,” answered the King, “for this stone is far 
better than any wood. Also, Lillo, I will take you 
into the palace as one of my pages, and you shall 
be taught all you will learn.” 

The King was as good as his word. The trees 
were spared, the wood-elves rejoiced, and Lillo came 
to the palace as one of the King’s pages. Soon 
both the King and Queen grew so fond of him, they 
treated him almost as a son. But he did not forget 
his friend, the Red Troll, whom he often stopped to 
see on his way to and from his old home in the 
forest. 

Some years passed happily by, and Lillo was 
almost grown, when he began to see that the King 
seemed very sad at times. One day, as they were 
walking in the garden, the King put his hand on 
the boy’s shoulder and said : 

“I wish you were my son, Lillo. I am growing 


i66 


THE RED TROLL 


old and the people urge me to adopt the son of one 
of my nobles, to succeed me. But I could never 
love him as I do you. You often remind me of my 
dear cousin, Prince Harta of Lupino, with whom I 
played when a lad.” 

“Where is he now, your Majesty*?” asked Lillo. 

“We do not know,” the King answered, sadly. 
“He was driven from his kingdom, with his little 
son, and all trace of them was lost.” The King said 
no more, but the next time Lillo went to see the 
Red Troll, he asked: 

“Do you know what became of the King’s 
cousin, Prince Harta of Lupino?” 

The troll sat silent for awhile, then said: 

“When you go on to the head-forester’s, Lillo, ask 
his wife for a letter which belonged to your father.” 

And this Lillo did. As she gave it to him the 
forester’s wife said : 

“You should have had this long ago, my dear 
boy, but I had forgotten it. We could not read it, 
but I dare say you can.” 

Although written in a language different from 
his own, Lillo saw that it was addressed to “King 
Kara of Lionne,” and exclaimed: 

“Why this is for our King!” 


THE RED TROLL 167 

The forester’s wife clasped her hands in distress, 
crying : 

“And we have kept it from him all these years!” 

“I must take it to him at once,” said Lillo, and 
he hurried away. He went straight to the King and 
said: 

“Your Majesty, I have something I would like 
to say to you.” 

“Say on, dear lad,” smiled the King. 

Lillo then told how he and his father were 
found in the forest when he was almost a baby; 
that his father had not lived, and the head-forester 
had adopted him. The King listened with interest. 

“To-day,” said Lillo, “I received this letter which 
my father left, and find it is addressed to your 
Majesty.” 

“To me?” exclaimed the King, astonished. He 
took it, broke the seal and began to read. He read 
it once and grew very pale; he read it twice, and 
tears came to his eyes; he read it the third time, 
then rose to his feet and put his arms around Lillo. 

“My dear boy,” he said, in a broken voice, “you 
are the son of my cousin Harta. You are Prince 
Lillo of Lupino, and you shall be Prince Lillo of 
Lionne, and my heir!” 


i68 


THE RED TROLL 


And so it came to pass, as the King said. And 
when he was gone, on his throne sat King Lillo and 
reigned over the people of Lionne. Many great lords 
were his counselors, but to none did he go for ad- 
vice so often as to his wise friend of old, the little 
Red Troll. 


Fairy Tales Old and New 


THE ROSE FAIRIES 


Olivia McCabe 

Illustrated in color by Hope Dunlap 

In this beautifully colored, illustrated book, Olivia McCabe has some charm- 
ing tales of fairyland which are ever so fascinating to the child reader. Hope 
Dunlap has provided beautiful pictures in soft, rich colors, which delight the 
eye. Boston Budget. 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $ 1.25 

THE GARDEN OF HEART’S DELIGHT 


Ida M. Huntington 

Illustrated in color by Maginel Wright Enright 

“As an interpretation of nature suitable to children, this book is quite as 
successful as Miss Huntington’s first popular book, 1 Peter Pumpkin in Wonder- 
land .’ The pictures are a source of endless pleasure.” Galveston News. 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 


THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE 

Miss Mulock 

Illustrated in color by Hope Dunlap 

“A delightful tale about ‘the most beautiful prince that ever was born.’ Thus 
begins a most engaging story for the little ones. The beautiful illustrations in 
color are by Hope Dunlap.” Boston Globe. 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

OLD FASHIONED FAIRY TALES 

Marion Foster Washburne 

Illustrated in color by Margaret Ely Webb 

These are the old, old fairy stories that children have loved for generations, 
retold from the poetic version of Tom Hood, with frequent quotations from the 
verse. The tales comprise Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, The Sleeping 
Beauty, and Hop-o’-My Thumb. “Truly the old standbys were never presented 
in more attractive form than in this beautifully illustrated book, nor have the 
tales been rendered in a form more likely to be acceptable to youthful readers 
or hearers.” 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.00 


RAND McNALLY & COMPANY 

CHICAGO NEW YORK 


Fairy Tales and Nature Stories 

JACKIEBOY IN RAINBOWLAND 

William L. Hill 

Illustrated in color by Fanny Y. Cory 

“The neatest and most original of the season’s output of children’s books. 
The book is a classic of its kind. Jackieboy in Rainbowland will be much 
read.” — The Helena Daily Independent , Helena , Mont. 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

EDDA AND THE OAK 

Elia Peattie 

Illustrated in color by Katharine Merrill 

“Never in the history of book-making have there been such wonderfully 
attractive books for children. Among the most artistic of these is ‘Edda and 
the Oak.’ ” — Nashville Banner , Nashville , Tenn. 

8 vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

THE ENCHANTED PEACOCK 

Julia Brown 

Illustrated in black and white and color by Lucy Fitch Perkins 

“Here are stories of enchantment touched with the old spirit of romance, yet 
written for children to-day. The tales are about beautiful things, told in charm- 
ing prose, which, by the way, is exquisitely illustrated by Lucy Fitch Perkins.” 

Chicago Tribune. 

8vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

THE LITTLE; KING AND THE PRINCESS TRUE 

Mrs. A. S. Hardy 

Author of “ The Hall of Shells ,” and u Sea Stories for Wonder Eyes ” 

Nature stories so true, so simply and beautifully told that they have all 
the effect of fairy stories. At the same time they convey a world of informa- 
tion in a most attractive form. 

Profusely illustrated in black and white from drawings by Milo K. Winter 
and from photos. 

Size 8 vo (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY 

CHICAGO NEW YORK 


New Books for the Story Hour 

THE STORY TELLER’S BOOK 

Alice O’Grady and Frances Throop 

For the busy mother and teacher. A selected group of the best stories for 
children, ranging from the simplest child experiences for little tots to the more 
complicated fairy, hero, and nature stories for older children. Short, humorous, 
and interspersed with verses. 

I2mo Price 75 cts. net 

STORIES OF THE PILGRIMS 

Margaret B. Pumphrey 

Illustrated in black and white and color by Lucy Fitch Perkins 

“In a simple, charming style the author centers her historic stories around 
winsome Pilgrim children. Good line drawings throughout the book make the 
little Pilgrims still more realistic. The book needs but to be seen to be 
appreciated." 

i2mo Price $1.00 net 

ROWENA’S HAPPY SUMMER 

Celia Myrover Robinson 

Illustrated in color by Hope Dunlap 

A simple, sweet, wholesome story of a gifted, generous-hearted little South- 
ern girl whose pleasant manners and talent for music paved the way to the 
betterment of family conditions and permitted advanced study in the musical 
world of the city. 

i2mo Price 60 cts. net 

MARJORIE MOXIE 

Maud Morrison Huey 

Illustrated in color by Ruth M. Hallock 

“Happy child life is a very difficult subject to portray, but in Marjorie 
Moxie it is pictured with a wealth of minutia which gives it a truth rarely found. 
She has individuality clearly and nicely developed. ... An embryo poet, authoress, 
journalist, mother, sister, boss of the family generally, Marjorie is one of the 
most charming damsels possible to meet . . . .The point we like about her is that 
she’s real — not yet grown up ." — The Minneapolis Journal. 

i2mo Price $1.00 

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY 

CHICAGO NEW YORK 



Verse Books for Children 


OTHER RHYMES FOR LITTLE READERS 

W ILHELMINA SEEGMILLER 

Illustrated in black and white and colors by Ruth M. Hallock 

“One in ten thousand. Children love a book with clear print, smooth paper 
and lots and lots of pictures. The jingles here appeal to the child. Ruth Hal- 
lock, the illustrator, has done her work remarkably well.” Peoria Evening 
Journal. 

Large quarto (For children under seven) Price $1.25 

THE RHYMING RING 

Louise Ayres Garnett 

Illustrated in colors and black and white by Hope Dunlap 

“Very charming with its lilting verses and its generous supply of pictures, is 
The Rhyming Ring. The book is filled with pretty child fancies of Mrs. Gar- 
nett and illustrated by the imaginative pen and brush of Hope Dunlap." 
Brooklyn Eagle. 

Large quarto (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN 

Robert Browning 

Illustrated in black and white and colors by Hope Dunlap 

“May Robert Browning’s rhymes of Hamelin town long continue to pipe to 
the children’s fancy! Hope Dunlap’s quaint and very likable pictures are in 
themselves a magic commentary on the magic rhyme in this new book." 
Denver , Colorado , News. 

Large quarto (For children under twelve) Price $1.25 

MOTHER GOOSE SERIES 

Illustrated in colors by Blanche Fisher Wright 

The best of the Mother Goose rhymes bound in eight books. Besides the 
two-color illustrations on every page, there are in each book four full-page pic- 
tures in full color. The decorative quality and refinement of feeling in the 
drawings make the series notable among Mother Goose books. Richly colored 
paper covers. 

10x12 Price 25 cents each 

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY 

CHICAGO NEW YORK 























































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